Health and Me

Rachel V Thomas

Gender-based Violence Surging Global Antimicrobial Resistance, Say Experts

Although <span>antimicrobial resistance</span> (<span>AMR</span>) is mainly caused by the misuse and overuse of medicines in humans, livestock, food production, and agriculture, gender-based violence and inequalities faced by women worldwide are significantly contributing to the problem by limiting their access to timely and quality healthcare.

Addressing gender inequality is essential to tackling the growing threat of AMR, said global health experts. 

Speaking during the March AMR Dialogue session titled “AMR Under the Gender Lens,” organized by the Global AMR Media Alliance (GAMA), scientists, researchers and public health experts highlighted how women often are at a higher risk of AMR due to <span>sexually transmitted infections</span> (STIs), urinary tract infections (UTIs), and complications related to abortions. 

The conditions often require antibiotics for effective treatment, but vulnerable women struggle to access them or fail to complete the course.

<h2>Antimicrobial Resistance: Why Women Are At High Risk?</h2>

According to Dr. <span>Soumya Swaminathan</span>, former Chief Scientist at the World Health Organization (WHO), it is impossible to reduce or prevent AMR without addressing gender-based violence because such violence affects women’s ability to seek healthcare.

“Women are at a very high risk of intimate partner violence or domestic violence - physical or sexual. This could lead to more infections. And because of their position within the household and the community, they are less likely to seek timely and adequate care for these injuries or infections, which could lead to drug-resistant infections,” said Dr. Swaminathan, Chairperson at MS Swaminathan Research Foundation, and former Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research (<span>ICMR</span>). 

“Whether it is STIs or UTIs, or reproductive tract infections, or pelvic inflammatory disease, all of these are linked with sexual violence and an increased risk of antibiotic use. Also, even if the woman may seek care, quite often follow-up is poor. She may have taken a partial course of antibiotics or the wrong doses. Women facing an unplanned pregnancy, who go for an unsafe <span>abortion</span> in some cases, are also at higher risk of AMR,” she added. 

Shobha Shukla, Chairperson of GAMA, said gender inequalities and harmful social norms often lead to the neglect of women’s health, making girls and women more vulnerable to antimicrobial resistance.

The experts also discussed the risk of AMR with infectious diseases like TB and HIV/AIDS, which carry deep stigma for women. Women patients often hide their illness, delay testing, avoid clinics, take medicines secretly, or stop treatment early.

<strong>Also read: </strong><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/whos-new-guidance-to-accelerate-antibiotics-development-for-3-deadly-bacterial-infections-article-153827246" data-type="tilCustomLink">WHO's New Guidance to Accelerate Antibiotics Development for 3 Deadly Bacterial Infections</a>

<h2>Antimicrobial Resistance: Gender norms And Power Play</h2> 

Dr. Esmita Charani, Associate Professor at the University of Cape Town, South Africa highlighted the strong power imbalance between patients and healthcare providers, which is often shaped by gender norms.

“Women frequently have less power to advocate for themselves in healthcare settings, whether they are patients or healthcare workers. Many women also prioritize the health of their family members over their own. Social norms also play a major role in AMR control,” the expert said.

Further, Dr. Deepshikha Bhateja from the Indian School of Business noted that cultural practices surrounding menstruation, pregnancy, and caregiving responsibilities can limit women’s access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities.

Lower education levels and limited awareness also prevent many women and girls from seeking healthcare freely. This reduces their ability to access and afford essential antibiotics and quality medical services, leading to incorrect diagnoses and inappropriate treatments that worsen AMR.

Dr. Swaminathan also pointed to the “feminization of agriculture” as another factor.

“From an intersectional perspective, here is a woman who lives in a rural area, she is also a small farmer, she has some livestock, she does some agriculture, and she has a family to look after. And she is alone because she has a migrant husband. And therefore, she has less access to health centers. She has less financial autonomy as well. In such a situation, she would probably be more likely to either neglect infections or take inappropriate treatment”.

<h2>Antimicrobial Resistance: How To Tackle</h2>

The experts emphasized that effectively tackling AMR requires ensuring that

<ul><li>Women are diagnosed early,</li><li>women receive proper treatment,</li><li>women complete their medications,</li><li>health policies are designed with women’s realities in mind</li><li>empowering women to play a leading role in preventing the misuse of antibiotics</li><li>gender inequality gets addressed in national AMR action plans.</li></ul>

Health Conditions A-Z

health

Gender Violence

sexually transmitted infections

abortion

Urinary Tract Infection

soumya swaminathan

icmr

antimicrobial resistance

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Although antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is mainly caused by the misuse and overuse of medicines in humans, livestock, food production, and agriculture, gender-based violence and inequalities faced by women worldwide are significantly contributing to the problem by limiting their access to timely and quality healthcare.Addressing gender inequality is essential to tackling the growing threat of AMR, said global health experts. Speaking during the March AMR Dialogue session titled “AMR Under the Gender Lens,” organized by the Global AMR Media Alliance (GAMA), scientists, researchers and public health experts highlighted how women often are at a higher risk of AMR due to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), urinary tract infections (UTIs), and complications related to abortions. The conditions often require antibiotics for effective treatment, but vulnerable women struggle to access them or fail to complete the course.Antimicrobial Resistance: Why Women Are At High Risk? According to Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, former Chief Scientist at the World Health Organization (WHO), it is impossible to reduce or prevent AMR without addressing gender-based violence because such violence affects women’s ability to seek healthcare. “Women are at a very high risk of intimate partner violence or domestic violence - physical or sexual. This could lead to more infections. And because of their position within the household and the community, they are less likely to seek timely and adequate care for these injuries or infections, which could lead to drug-resistant infections,” said Dr. Swaminathan, Chairperson at MS Swaminathan Research Foundation, and former Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).  “Whether it is STIs or UTIs, or reproductive tract infections, or pelvic inflammatory disease, all of these are linked with sexual violence and an increased risk of antibiotic use. Also, even if the woman may seek care, quite often follow-up is poor. She may have taken a partial course of antibiotics or the wrong doses. Women facing an unplanned pregnancy, who go for an unsafe abortion in some cases, are also at higher risk of AMR,” she added.  Shobha Shukla, Chairperson of GAMA, said gender inequalities and harmful social norms often lead to the neglect of women’s health, making girls and women more vulnerable to antimicrobial resistance. The experts also discussed the risk of AMR with infectious diseases like TB and HIV/AIDS, which carry deep stigma for women. Women patients often hide their illness, delay testing, avoid clinics, take medicines secretly, or stop treatment early.Also read: WHO's New Guidance to Accelerate Antibiotics Development for 3 Deadly Bacterial InfectionsAntimicrobial Resistance: Gender norms And Power Play Dr. Esmita Charani, Associate Professor at the University of Cape Town, South Africa highlighted the strong power imbalance between patients and healthcare providers, which is often shaped by gender norms. “Women frequently have less power to advocate for themselves in healthcare settings, whether they are patients or healthcare workers. Many women also prioritize the health of their family members over their own. Social norms also play a major role in AMR control,” the expert said. Further, Dr. Deepshikha Bhateja from the Indian School of Business noted that cultural practices surrounding menstruation, pregnancy, and caregiving responsibilities can limit women’s access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities. Lower education levels and limited awareness also prevent many women and girls from seeking healthcare freely. This reduces their ability to access and afford essential antibiotics and quality medical services, leading to incorrect diagnoses and inappropriate treatments that worsen AMR. Dr. Swaminathan also pointed to the “feminization of agriculture” as another factor. “From an intersectional perspective, here is a woman who lives in a rural area, she is also a small farmer, she has some livestock, she does some agriculture, and she has a family to look after. And she is alone because she has a migrant husband. And therefore, she has less access to health centers. She has less financial autonomy as well. In such a situation, she would probably be more likely to either neglect infections or take inappropriate treatment”.Antimicrobial Resistance: How To TackleThe experts emphasized that effectively tackling AMR requires ensuring thatWomen are diagnosed early,women receive proper treatment,women complete their medications,health policies are designed with women’s realities in mindempowering women to play a leading role in preventing the misuse of antibioticsgender inequality gets addressed in national AMR action plans.