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Eger H, Chacko S, El-Gamal S, Gerlinger T, Kaasch A, Meudec M, Munshi S, Naghipour A, Rhule E, Sandhya YK, Uribe OL. Towards a Feminist Global Health Policy: Power, intersectionality, and transformation. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 4:e0002959. [PMID: 38451969 PMCID: PMC10919653 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
In the realm of global health policy, the intricacies of power dynamics and intersectionality have become increasingly evident. Structurally embedded power hierarchies constitute a significant concern in achieving health for all and demand transformational change. Adopting intersectional feminist approaches potentially mitigates health inequities through more inclusive and responsive health policies. While feminist approaches to foreign and development policies are receiving increasing attention, they are not accorded the importance they deserve in global health policy. This article presents a framework for a Feminist Global Health Policy (FGHP), outlines the objectives and underlying principles and identifies the actors responsible for its meaningful implementation. Recognising that power hierarchies and societal contexts inherently shape research, the proposed framework was developed via a participatory research approach that aligns with feminist principles. Three independent online focus groups were conducted between August and September 2022 with 11 participants affiliated to the global-academic or local-activist level and covering all WHO regions. The qualitative content analysis revealed that a FGHP must be centred on considerations of intersectionality, power and knowledge paradigms to present meaningful alternatives to the current structures. By balancing guiding principles with sensitivity for context-specific adaptations, the framework is designed to be applicable locally and globally, whilst its adoption is intended to advance health equity and reproductive justice, with communities and policymakers identified as the main actors. This study underscores the importance of dismantling power structures by fostering intersectional and participatory approaches for a more equitable global health landscape. The FGHP framework is intended to initiate debate among global health practitioners, policymakers, researchers and communities. Whilst an undeniably intricate and time-consuming process, continuous and collaborative work towards health equity is imperative to translate this vision into practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Eger
- School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
- Faculty of Sociology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | | | | | - Thomas Gerlinger
- School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | | | - Marie Meudec
- Outbreak Research Team, Population Data Hub, Equity & Health Unit, Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Shehnaz Munshi
- School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Awa Naghipour
- Department of Sex and Gender Sensitive Medicine, Medical Faculty OWL, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Emma Rhule
- International Institute for Global Health, United Nations University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Hastings C, French M, McClelland A, Mykhalovskiy E, Adam B, Bisaillon L, Bogosavljevic K, Gagnon M, Greene S, Guta A, Hindmarch S, Kaida A, Kilty J, Massaquoi N, Namaste V, O'Byrne P, Orsini M, Patterson S, Sanders C, Symington A, Wilson C. Criminal Code reform of HIV non-disclosure is urgently needed: Social science perspectives on the harms of HIV criminalization in Canada. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH = REVUE CANADIENNE DE SANTE PUBLIQUE 2024; 115:8-14. [PMID: 38087186 PMCID: PMC10868573 DOI: 10.17269/s41997-023-00843-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
The criminalization of HIV non-disclosure represents a significant issue of concern among people living with HIV, those working across the HIV sector, public health practitioners, and health and human rights advocates around the world. Recently, the government of Canada began a review of the criminal law regarding HIV non-disclosure and invited feedback from the public about potential reforms to the Criminal Code. In light of this public consultation, this commentary examines social science research from Canadian scholars that documents the intersecting damaging effects of HIV criminalization. Canadian social scientists and other researchers have shown that HIV criminalization is applied in uneven and discriminatory ways, impedes HIV prevention efforts, perpetuates HIV stigma, and has a damaging impact on the daily lives of people living with HIV. We argue that there is an urgent need for reforms that will significantly restrict how the criminal law is applied to HIV non-disclosure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin Hastings
- Department of Sociology and Legal Studies, University of Waterloo, Kitchener-Waterloo, ON, Canada.
| | - Martin French
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Alexander McClelland
- Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | | | - Barry Adam
- Department of Sociology, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada
| | - Laura Bisaillon
- Department of Health and Society, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Marilou Gagnon
- School of Nursing, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Saara Greene
- School of Social Work, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Adrian Guta
- School of Social Work, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada
| | - Suzanne Hindmarch
- Department of Political Science, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada
| | - Angela Kaida
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Jennifer Kilty
- Department of Criminology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Notisha Massaquoi
- Department of Health and Society, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Viviane Namaste
- Simone de Beauvoir Institute & Women's Studies, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Michael Orsini
- Institute of Feminist and Gender Studies and the School of Political Studies, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Sophie Patterson
- Faculty of Health & Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, England
| | - Chris Sanders
- Department of Sociology, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON, Canada
| | | | - Ciann Wilson
- Department of Psychology, Wilfrid Laurier University, Kitchener-Waterloo, ON, Canada
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Walimbwa J, Macharia P, Wambua S, Lazarus L, Lorway R. Political homophobia and the effect on GBMSM programmes in Kenya: The significance of a community-led rapid agency assessment. Glob Public Health 2023; 18:2271989. [PMID: 37885283 DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2023.2271989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
A recent Supreme Court ruling that permitted LGBTQ + rights organisations to officially register as non-governmental organisations has led to rises in political homophobia in Kenya. Community leaders initiated and led a rapid agency assessment to examine the effects of this rising political homophobia on sexual health services access for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). This survey assessment engaged directors and programme managers running 20 community-based organisations (CBOs) representing 19 Kenyan counties, serving the sexual health needs of more than >25,000 GBMSM. In addition to prevalent shutdowns of health services, respondents reported growing religious tensions, fears and threats of attack, withdrawal of local county government support, and rising religious tensions. At a moment when highly oppressive anti-LGBTQ + legislation has been drafted and debated in parliament, in the name of 'family protection', this commentary makes an appeal to allied health officials and global funding partners to make more explicit statements that call attention to the negative consequences of political homophobia on the grounds of public health and human rights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Walimbwa
- Ishtar MSM, Nairobi, Kenya
- G10 Research Network, Nairobi, Kenya
- Community Research and Technical Support Hub, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Pascal Macharia
- Health Options for Young Men on HIV/AIDS and STIs (HOYMAS), Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Lisa Lazarus
- Institute for Global Public Health, Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Robert Lorway
- Institute for Global Public Health, Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
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