Health is not gender-neutral. Gender norms, stigma, unequal power relations, legal barriers and economic insecurity all shape whether people can access prevention, testing, treatment and care.
To introduce this topic, Cordaid has developed a general infographic on how gender and health intersect. It shows how gender can shape people’s health risks, their access to services, the quality of care they receive, and their role in health decision-making.
Alongside the infographic, this background paper takes a closer look at one specific area: how gender influences the fight against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria — and how the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria responds. It shows how adolescent girls and young women face heightened HIV risks, how stigma and social expectations can delay TB diagnosis and treatment for both women and men, and why malaria prevention often fails to reach pregnant women and other vulnerable groups.
The paper also highlights practical ways to address these barriers: from gender-responsive health services and community-led outreach to better data, more inclusive decision-making, and stronger support for affected communities.