Gender considerations in One Health: a framework for researchers

One Health research and intervention outcomes are strongly influenced by
gender dynamics. Women, men, girls, and boys can be negatively affected by
gender-based disadvantage in any of the three One Health domains (animal,
human, and environmental health), and where this occurs in more than one
domain the result may be a compounding of inequity. Evidence worldwide
shows that women and girls are more likely to suffer from such genderbased
disadvantage. A thoughtfully implemented One Health intervention that
prioritizes gender equity is more likely to be adopted, has fewer unintended
negative consequences, and can support progress toward gender equality,
however there is limited evidence and discussion to guide using a gender
lens in One Health activities. We propose a framework to identify key gender
considerations in One Health research for development – with a focus on
Low-and Middle-Income Countries. The framework encourages developing
two types of research questions at multiple stages of the research process:
those with a bioscience entry-point and those with a gender entry-point.
Gender considerations at each stage of research, institutional support required,
and intervention approaches is described in the framework. We also give an
applied example of the framework as it might be used in One Health research.
Incorporation of gender questions in One Health research supports progress
toward more equitable, sustainable, and effective One Health interventions.
We hope that this framework will be implemented and optimized for use across
many One Health challenge areas with the goal of mainstreaming gender into
One Health research.