Female global health leadership: data-driven approaches to close the gender gap

Mathad, Jyoti S.; Reif, Lindsey K.; Seo, Grace; Walsh, Kathleen F.; McNairy, Margaret L.; Lee, Myung Hee; Hokororo, Adolfine; Kinikar, Aarti; Riché, C. Thomas; Deschamps, Marie Marcelle; Nerette, Sandy; Nimkar, Smita; Kayange, Neema; Jaka, Hyasinta; Joseph, Glory; Morona, Domenica; Peter, Thandiwe Yvonne; Suryavanshi, Nishi; Fitzgerald, Daniel W.; Downs, Jennifer A.

doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(19)30203-x

Cited by 39 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 7 publications

(9 reference statements)

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“…Consistent with our finding, other studies have shown that while the majority of the healthcare workforce is female, women are still underrepresented in healthcare leadership positions [46][47][48][49]. Women represent 70 to 80% of the total of the workforce; however, only 24% reach senior executive positions, and furthermore, only 18% of women occupied general manager positions in hospitals [50,51].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Gender imbalance in executive management positions at the Mexican National Institutes of Health

Rivera-Romano¹,

Fresno²,

Hernández‐Lemus³

et al. 2020

Hum Resour Health

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Background: Around the world, there is a significant difference in the proportion of women with access to leadership in healthcare with respect to men. This article studies gender imbalance and wage gap in managerial, executive, and directive job positions at the Mexican National Institutes of Health. Methods: Cohort data were described using a visual circular representation and modeled using a generalized linear model. Analysis of variance was used to assess model significance, and posterior Fisher's least significant differences were analyzed when appropriate. Results: This study demonstrated that there is a gender imbalance distribution among the hierarchical position at the Mexican National Health Institutes and also exposed that the wage gap exists mainly in the (highest or lowest) ranks in hierarchical order. Conclusions: Since the majority of the healthcare workforce is female, Mexican women are still underrepresented in executive and directive management positions at national healthcare organizations.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Gender imbalance in executive management positions at the Mexican National Institutes of Health

Rivera-Romano¹,

Fresno²,

Hernández‐Lemus³

et al. 2020

Hum Resour Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…(36,45) Evidence from leading humanitarian organisations suggests that global efforts to protect and assist people caught up in conflict and national disasters will be more effective if more women contribute in leadership roles. (46)(47)(48) In an article in the Lancet series on humanitarian health, Paul Spiegel states that the humanitarian system requires a major reform of leadership and coordination models, as the current system does not reflect the complexity and diversity of current humanitarian emergencies. (49) Spiegel further notes that for any leadership revision to occur, governments, UN agencies, multilateral organisations, and international NGOs "need to put aside differences and relinquish authority, influence, and funding."…”

Section: Why Is Women's Leadership In the Conflict And Humanitarian Hmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Having More Women Humanitarian Leaders Will Help Transform The Humanitarian System”: Challenges and Opportunities for Women Leaders in Conflict and Humanitarian Health

Patel

Meagher

Achi

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background It is estimated that over 40 percent of the half a million humanitarian workers who provide frontline care during emergencies, wars and disasters, are women. Women are at the forefront of improving health for conflict-affected populations through service delivery, education and capacity strengthening, advocacy and research. Women are also disproportionately affected by conflict and humanitarian emergencies. The growing evidence base demonstrating excess female morbidity and mortality reflects the necessity of evaluating the role of women in leadership driving health research, policy and programmatic interventions in conflict-related humanitarian contexts. Despite global commitments to improving gender equality, the issue of women leaders in conflict and humanitarian health has been given little or no attention.Methods A desk-based literature review of academic and grey sources was conducted followed by thematic analysis.Results There is very limited evidence on women leaders in conflict and humanitarian health. But some data shows that women have leadership skills that help to support more inclusive solutions which are incredibly important in this sector. However, deeply imbedded discrimination against women at the organisational, cultural, social, financial and political levels is exacerbated in conflict which makes it more challenging for women to progress in such settings. Building on the available opportunities and initiatives and on inspirational experiences of the limited number of women leaders in this field, recommendations for empowering and supporting women leadership in conflict health are presented.Conclusion Advocating for women leaders in conflict and health in the humanitarian sector, governmental bodies, academia and the global health community is crucial to increasing effective interventions that adequately address the complexity and diversity of humanitarian crises.Key Messages:· More women leaders can transform the humanitarian system to better meet the health needs of those affected by conflict and humanitarian emergencies· Women are significantly under-represented in the most senior humanitarian leadership roles· Patriarchal attitudes restrict women’s aspiration to becoming leaders in several conflict-affected societies· Humanitarian leadership teams that are more diverse and inclusive perform better· Organisational culture across the conflict and humanitarian health domain significantly hinders women pursuing leadership roles· Inclusive environments to enable women to become leaders creates broader understanding of the global health system

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“…[48] Some data suggest that leaders in this sector also require diverse, adaptable skillsets that enable them to effectively work across many cultures and contexts, working with communities, national and international staff and partners, whilst ensuring their leadership style facilitates capacity strengthening opportunities for national staff and partners. [38,49] Evidence from leading humanitarian organisations suggests that global efforts to protect and assist people caught up in con ict and national disasters will be more effective if more women contribute in leadership roles. [1,50,51] In an article in the Lancet series on humanitarian health, Paul Spiegel states that the humanitarian system requires a major reform of leadership and coordination models, as the current system does not re ect the complexity and diversity of current humanitarian emergencies.…”

Section: Role Of Women's Leadershipmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Evidence also shows that sexism, sexual harassment, gender pay inequity, and fewer chances for promotion are key barriers that women in the scienti c, medical and academic sector face. [49,62,73,74] Laurie Garrett's article in the BMJ provides recent analysis of the barriers experienced by women leaders in the scienti c and medical sector. Female advancement in this sector faces signi cant barriers in access to advanced education, career progression and promotions, extreme bias in research funding, access to journal publication, and invitations to present at high-level meetings.…”

Section: Role Of Women's Leadershipmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Having more women humanitarian leaders will help transform the humanitarian system”: Challenges and Opportunities for Women Leaders in Conflict and Humanitarian Health

Patel

Meagher

Achi

et al. 2020

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: It is estimated that over 40 percent of the half a million humanitarian workers who provide frontline care during emergencies, wars and disasters, are women. Women are at the forefront of improving health for conflict-affected populations through service delivery, education and capacity strengthening, advocacy and research. Women are also disproportionately affected by conflict and humanitarian emergencies. The growing evidence base demonstrating excess female morbidity and mortality reflects the necessity of evaluating the role of women in leadership driving health research, policy and programmatic interventions in conflict-related humanitarian contexts. Despite global commitments to improving gender equality, the issue of women leaders in conflict and humanitarian health has been given little or no attention. The aim of this paper focuses on three domains: importance, barriers and opportunities for women leaders in conflict and humanitarian health. Following thematic analysis of the material collected, we discuss the following themes: barriers of women’s leadership domain at societal level, and organisational level, which is subcategorized into culture and strategy. Building on the available opportunities and initiatives and on inspirational experiences of the limited number of women leaders in this field, recommendations for empowering and supporting women’s leadership in conflict health are presented. Methods: A desk-based literature review of academic and grey sources was conducted followed by thematic analysis. Results: There is very limited evidence on women leaders in conflict and humanitarian health. Some data shows that women have leadership skills that help to support more inclusive solutions which are incredibly important in this sector. However, deeply imbedded discrimination against women at the organisational, cultural, social, financial and political levels is exacerbated in conflict which makes it more challenging for women to progress in such settings. Conclusion: Advocating for women leaders in conflict and health in the humanitarian sector, governmental bodies, academia and the global health community is crucial to increasing effective interventions that adequately address the complexity and diversity of humanitarian crises.

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Female global health leadership: data-driven approaches to close the gender gap

Cited by 39 publications

References 7 publications

Gender imbalance in executive management positions at the Mexican National Institutes of Health

Gender imbalance in executive management positions at the Mexican National Institutes of Health

“Having More Women Humanitarian Leaders Will Help Transform The Humanitarian System”: Challenges and Opportunities for Women Leaders in Conflict and Humanitarian Health

“Having more women humanitarian leaders will help transform the humanitarian system”: Challenges and Opportunities for Women Leaders in Conflict and Humanitarian Health

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