Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) – when medicines stop working against infections – hits some groups harder than others.
Gautron and colleagues (2023) found that women often face higher risks because of their roles in fetching water, cooking, and caregiving, which expose them to more germs, especially where sanitation is poor.
Pregnancy and menstruation add to their vulnerability. Meanwhile, men in jobs like animal slaughter or healthcare frequently encounter drug-resistant bacteria. While men may have better access to medicines, they’re also more likely to misuse antibiotics, speeding up resistance.
The most marginalized groups – sex workers, LGBTQ+ people, and the poor – struggle even more. Stigma, discrimination, and poverty block their access to proper treatment, leaving infections unchecked and resistance spreading.
The takeaway? AMR isn’t just about science; it’s about inequality. Beating it requires policies that address gender gaps, poverty, and social exclusion.
Women face higher infection risks from caregiving and poor sanitation, while men’s jobs and medicine misuse worsen resistance. Stigma denies care to sex workers and LGBTQ+ people. Solving AMR demands tackling these injustices.
Original Link: https://lnkd.in/d5SaqvU8
Juliette Gautron , Giada Tu Thanh , Dr Violet Barasa and Giovanna Voltolina Luchuo Engelbert Bain @Nigeria Health Watch EUPHA – European Public Health Association IOSHM (Institution of Occupational Safety & Health Management) American Public Health Association Society for Social Medicine & Population Health Students for Global Health International Society of Global Health Doctors for Global Health IFMSA | International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations Public Health Insight Global Health Council Global Health Association of Kenya (GHAK)
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