Health Implications of Gender Inequality: Articulating A Global Research Agenda

Project's Details

Title: Health Implications of Gender Inequality: Articulating A Global Research Agenda

Funded by: Ministry of Education (MOE) Academic Research Fund (AcRF) Tier 2

Amount: S$624,351

PI: Assistant Professor Dr Kriti Vikram, Department of Sociology and Anthropology and Deputy Director of CFPR, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, NUS

Co-PIs: Associate Professor Feng Qiushi, Department of Sociology and Anthropology and Deputy Director of CFPR, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, NUS; Associate Professor Vincent Chua, Department of Sociology and Anthropology and Co-Director of CFPR, NUS; Dr Abhijit Visaria, Centre for Ageing Research and Education (CARE), Duke-NUS Medical School

Project duration: 05 Aug 2023 to 04 Aug 2026

Abstract

This three-year project aims to develop an evidence base for the roles of gender inequality in shaping women's health in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Using the life course framework, it will illustrate a series of novel pathways linking gender inequality and gender-based adversities with the health and well-being of women in mid and later life. The project aims to produce research publications on the topic, establish a global research network on gender inequality and later-life health, and develop a policy document containing a summary of key research findings, research and data gaps, as well as policy suggestions. Dr. Vikram has already begun work on this topic. A study related to this topic was recently published in the International Journal of Epidemiology. It documents the association between child marriage and hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, asthma, and thyroid disease among women in the reproductive age group in India (Vikram et al., 2023). It also linked early motherhood with these diseases. Lastly, it found that the relationship between child marriage and hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease was partially mediated by early motherhood.