Guidelines for gender based analysis of health data for decision making

The PAHO Gender Equality Policy has a stated goal to “contribute to the achievement of gender equality in health status and health development through research, policies and programs which give due atten- tion to gender differences in health and its determinants, and actively promote equality between women and men.” (1). [...] In the case of health, GBA illuminates the differ- Ultimately, gender-based analysis brings ences in health status and its determinants, into view the influences, omissions and im- health care utilization in accordance with plications of our work in health policy, pro- health needs, ability to pay for health ser- gramming and planning (2). [...] GBA an assessment of where and how the experiences and situations of people who do Gender-based analysis describes the not identify as either masculine or feminine situations most men and women live with fit the circumstances described, and how day-to-day, relating to their sex and to their their particular needs can be met in health masculinity and femininity. [...] Women ex- perience more breaks in their paid work lives than men because of their roles in child-bearing and rear- ing, and because culturally and socially they are the main caregivers for the sick and elderly in their fam- ily and communities. [...] With critical to continue before we can be sure that the news of the devastation the disease has cre- incidence of HIV is decreasing in the country, ated in sub-Saharan Africa and other parts as it may only reflect random fluctuations or of the world, health planners in Belize are changes in the intensity of efforts to identify taking action.