This paper critically examines the intersection between gender equality and women’s health, focusing on how policy frameworks, healthcare access and socio-economic determinants shape health outcomes for women across diverse contexts. Despite global commitments to gender equity, significant disparities persist in healthcare access, quality and outcomes, particularly in low- and middle-income settings. These disparities are deeply rooted in structural inequalities, including poverty, education gaps, cultural norms and institutional biases within healthcare systems. The study adopts an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on public health, gender studies and policy analysis to evaluate how national and international policies influence women’s health outcomes. It analyzes key global frameworks such as reproductive health rights initiatives, universal health coverage programs and gender mainstreaming strategies, assessing their effectiveness in reducing inequalities. Special attention is given to maternal health, reproductive autonomy, mental health and gender-based violence as critical indicators of women’s well-being. The paper further explores barriers to healthcare access, including affordability, geographic limitations, lack of female healthcare providers and sociocultural constraints that restrict women’s mobility and decision-making power. It argues that access is not merely a matter of availability but is mediated by power relations within households and communities. Additionally, the study highlights how marginalized groups, such as rural women, women with disabilities and minority populations, face compounded disadvantages. Using comparative case studies, the research identifies patterns of policy success and failure, demonstrating that countries with integrated gender-sensitive health policies and strong accountability mechanisms tend to achieve better outcomes. Conversely, fragmented policies and weak implementation exacerbate inequities. The findings underscore the need for transformative policy approaches that go beyond formal equality to address structural and intersectional inequalities. The paper concludes by recommending targeted policy reforms, increased investment in gender-responsive healthcare systems, community-based interventions and stronger monitoring frameworks to ensure equitable health outcomes for all women.
Aneraye et al. (Sat,) studied this question.