Gender differences on perceptions of health risks and adaptation of climate change among primary healthcare workers in Guangdong Province / 环境与职业医学

Background Climate change has resulted in long-term impacts on human health. Implementing efficient adaptation strategies among primary healthcare facilities is well determined by whether staff of different genders recognize the health risks related to climate change and are willing to take active measures. Objective To investigate gender differences on perceptions of health risks and attitude towards adaptation strategies among primary healthcare workers in China, and provide relevant suggestions. Methods By adopting a multi-stage cluster sampling method, we selected 21 urban and 10 rural healthcare facilities in Guangdong Province to collect information with a questionnaire. Then chi-square test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, and logistic regression analysis were used to explore the gender differences in climate change-related health risk cognition, knowledge acquisition channels, attitudes towards adaptation strategies, main obstacles, and resource requirements among the healthcare workers. Results Of 733 participants, 38.47% (282 participants) were male and 61.53% (451 participants) were female. The percentages of male healthcare workers who agreed that climate change is happening and recognized the causes of climate change (70.21%, 60.99%) were higher than the percentages of female counterparts (59.87%, 49.00%) (both Ps＜0.05), but no obvious gender differences existed in recognizing health risks of heatwaves and infectious diseases as well as sensitive population identification (all Ps＞0.05). Most of the participants (92.50%) received climate change and health-related information from mass media like TV, radio, and newspapers. Meanwhile less men chose new media channels than women (OR=0.62, 95%CI∶ 0.41-0.94). Only 30.56% of the participants (33.69% of men and 28.60% of women) reported involvement of relevant training and lectures. Most of them (90.96%) agreed to take active measures to deal with the health threats associated with climate change without gender differences for various measures (all Ps＞0.05). The leading obstacles were hard to integrate health adaptation to climate change into main work of institutions (most female agreed, 72.28%) and the lack of funds (most male agreed, 77.66%). Increasing funding for primary health care was regarded as the most needed resource by male (86.88%) and female (89.14%). After controlling the influence of other social factors, more men agreed with the lack of funds than women (OR=1.57, 95%CI∶ 1.10-2.24). Conclusion There are some gender differences in the perceptions of health risks and adaptation strategies of climate change among primary healthcare workers: Male staff are more likely to agree with climate change and regard the lack of funds as the main obstacle, while women prefer to choose new media channels to obtain information. It’s suggested that the government and relevant institutions focus on the learning and training of climate change and health-related knowledge and expand diversified information access, and promote capacity building to cope with health threats at grass-root level, in the light of recognized gender differences among primary healthcare workers.

Articular saúde mental e relações de gênero: dar voz aos sujeitos silenciados / Articulate mental health and social gender relations: giving voice to silenced subjects

Analisa-se a experiência do sofrimento psíquico a partir de relatos de homens e mulheres usuários de serviço público de saúde do município de Araraquara (SP). Considera-se a construção social do sofrimento psíquico e, portanto, a conformação dos valores e normas de determinada sociedade e época histórica. Utilizaram-se entrevistas semi-estruturadas com usuários do Centro de Atenção Psicossocial (CAPS), homens e mulheres, analisadas sob a ótica das relações sociais de gênero e do contexto das mudanças no sistema psiquiátrico brasileiro a partir da luta antimanicomial. Conclui-se que o desafio a ser enfrentado pela sociedade brasileira contemporânea na construção de políticas públicas para saúde mental deve levar em conta questões postas pela perspectiva das relações sociais de gênero. Portanto, significa, ao incorporar o tema gênero no âmbito da saúde mental, questionar uma concepção reducionista e biologizante da saúde mental das mulheres. Verificou-se que o adoecimento psíquico feminino mantém estreita correlação com a violência contra as mulheres e a repressão sexual ainda vigente na sociedade. No que tange à vivência do adoecimento psíquico masculino, requer enfrentar a questão do estigma. Estes, ao adoecerem, são excluídos do espaço público e enfrentam maiores dificuldades de reinserção social e de reconstrução da identidade anterior.

The experience of the psychological suffering based on testimonies of male and female users of a public health service in the municipality of Araraquara (SP). It is considered the social construction of the psychological suffering and, therefore, the arrangement of values and norms of a certain society and historical period. Semi-structured interviews were applied in male and female users of the Center of Psychosocial Attention (CAPS). These interviews were analyzed through the perspective of social gender relations and under the context of changes at the Brazilian psychiatric system started with the Anti Asylum Fight. In conclusion, the challenge to be of the contemporary Brazilian society in the construction of public policies in the field of mental health must take into account questions raised by the perspective of social gender relations. Therefore, it means that by incorporating the gender theme in mental health issues, we must question the biological and reductionist conception of women’s mental health. The violence against women and the sexual repression in our society have contributed a lot to the female psychiatric debility. Regarding men, it is necessary to face the question of their stigma. By falling sick, they are excluded from public spaces and confront great difficulties to reintroduce themselves into society and to rebuild their previous identity.

A mulher e o direito de amamentar: as condições sociais para o exercício desta função / Women's right to breastfeed: the social condition for performance of this function / El derecho de la mujer de amantar: las condiciones sociales para el ejercicio de esta función

Amamentar revela lacunas e distorções. Embora considerada como direito da mulher e da criança, não são oferecidos condições e suportes necessários. Procuramos compreender as relações de significados que as nutrizes estabelecem entre amamentar e as atividades produtivas e não produtivas do seu cotidiano. Entrevistamos 22 nutrizes, após consentimento, sobre suas experiências de amamentar. Análise dos dados fundamentou-se nas relações sociais de gênero. A mulher se coloca em função do outro (filho, marido); o aleitamento é assumido prioritariamente, e as outras atividades a título provisório. Exigindo de si mesma, a mulher tem ilusória percepção de onipotência e onipresença gerando conflitos no seu meio relacional.

Beastfeedings shows gaps and problems. Although it is considered a right for the woman and child, the necessary conditions and support is not offered to them. Aiming to understand the meaning of relationship that nursing mothers establish between breast feeding and their productive and not productive activities in daily lives, we interviewed 22 women, with their permission, about their breast feeding experiences. Data analysis was based on social gender theories. The woman acts infunction of the other (child, husband), breast feeding is assumed as a priority and other activities as “temporary”. Putting demands on herself, the woman has an illusion of omnipotence and omnipresence causing conflicts in her relationships.

Amamantar ocasiona ideas vagas y distorciones. Apesar de estar considerado como derecho de la mujer y del niño, no se ofrece condiciones ni soporte necesario.. Intentamos comprender las relaciones significativas que las primerizas establecen entre amantar y las actividades productivas y no productivasde su dia cotidiano. Entrevistamos 22 primerizas,con el debido consentimiento sobre sus experiencias de amamantar.El análisis de los datos se fundamentó en las relaciones sociales del genero. La mujer se coloca a disposición delos otros (hijos, marido); la leche materna es asumida como prioridad, y las otras actividades se quedan con el titulo de"provisorio". Exigiendo de si misma, la mujer tienes ilusoria percepción de omnipotencia y omnipresencia generado conflictosen su raciocinio.