The Impact of NTDs on women’s well-being in Kenya

[Anonymous]

Hello everyone!

I came across this interesting article that explores the intersection of gender roles and NTDs in Kenya. Check it out here:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7926948/

One powerful quote that stood out to me is:
“You see the male chauvinists […] they believe that women should take up some roles […] it is like the women are the ones who go to the rivers to fetch water, wash the clothes… which has some impact on schistosomiasis infection.”

It’s disheartening to see how societal expectations can affect women’s health. This article is a reminder that the roles women play in their communities can increase their greater risk for NTDs.

With International Women’s Day approaching, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this article and this important topic. Let’s keep the conversation going and discuss how we can do our part to improve women’s health globally.

[Anonymous]

Hi DebAkurang! Thank you for sharing this important article about gender roles and NTDs in Kenya. The quote you highlighted perfectly illustrates how gendered social roles can directly impact disease exposure and health outcomes.

Our GESI (Gender Equity and Social Inclusion) assessment work in South Sudan reveals similar patterns. In Awerial County, we’re investigating how gender intersects with other social factors to influence Mass Drug Administration (MDA) uptake for onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis.
In Kapoeta North, our Root Cause Analysis found gender-specific barriers to MDA participation. While men’s high mobility due to cattle herding was a major obstacle, women faced different challenges including limited decision-making autonomy and higher rates of difficulty walking (14.6% of women vs 6.5% of men). Women were also less knowledgeable about trachoma symptoms (41% unsure or unaware vs 32% of men) and slightly more fearful about MDA participation.

I’m excited to share that we’ll be hosting a webinar with iCHORDS in June specifically focused on this topic. We’ll be diving deeper into our findings and discussing practical approaches to addressing gender disparities in NTD prevention and treatment. Also, keep an eye out for our upcoming blog post that will further explore these issues and our work in South Sudan!

These gender dimensions are crucial as we approach International Women’s Day. Understanding how social roles affect health outcomes allows us to design more effective and equitable interventions that better serve everyone in the community.

[Author]

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