Psychosocial, cultural, structural, and biological factors interact to influence health. Women and girls experience health inequalities across the life course in low- and middle- and in high-income countries. They carry the sexual and reproductive health burdens of fertility and fertility management, unwanted, unintended, or mistimed pregnancy, contraceptive responsibility, menstrual disorders including endometriosis, pregnancy, childbirth and lactation, female specific cancers, and menopause.

They are less likely than boys and men to be fully vaccinated, adequately nourished in infancy and early childhood, educated to secondary and post-secondary levels, economically autonomous, and in positions of political authority or economic or policy leadership. They are more likely to experience most forms of interpersonal violence, including sexual abuse in childhood, violence perpetrated by an intimate partner, disrespectful and abusive healthcare, and workplace harassment.

They carry a disproportionate burden of unpaid household work and caregiving, and occupy lower socioeconomic positions, with insufficient financial resources for their needs.

This session is looking forward. Our eminent speakers will focus on promising public policies, programs and practices that are reducing health inequalities experienced by women and girls in our region.