Gender-Gesundheitsbericht Schweiz 2006 - Gender Campus

Moreover, there is a need to take a closer look at gender stereotypes in the field of mental
health. There are indications that epidemiological research instruments display a gender
bias; typical male reactions to stress are not registered, for example, and there is a
similar problem concerning the diagnosis of depression. The development of gendersensitive
instruments is important not least because although there is much evidence for
the existence of gender differences, their causes have as yet hardly been investigated.
For the reduction of infectious and non-infectious diseases, the principle of gender mainstreaming
must be more strongly integrated into clinical and public health research, and
into healthcare provision itself. Epidemiological data show, for example, that there are
clear gender-specific morbidity and mortality rates, particularly in middle age. Cardiovascular
diseases and cancer are relevant causes of death for women and men, whereas
accidents are mainly significant causes of death among men. The grounds for gender
differences in mortality can primarily be attributed to gender-specific health-risk behaviour
and more dangerous living and working conditions for men. Women and men are
affected to a different extent by many diseases, however, so far these gender differences
have not been comprehensively studied. One exception is in the area of heart
disease: here it emerges that women’s symptoms are misinterpreted, there is no available
diagnosis suitable for both genders, and furthermore women and men benefit from
specific diagnosis and therapy to different extents. These findings can be used to significantly
enhance the quality of care and to increase gender equality in the health system.
In order to reduce injuries due to violence and accidents, particular attention should be
given to younger men up to middle age. Overall, men are roughly 2.5 times more at risk
than women of dying as a result of violence and accidents. There is a need for research
and intervention in connection with accidents, particularly on the issue of how men and
women can be justly addressed in order to tackle the identity-forming aspects of highrisk
behaviour among young men (e.g. in traffic). Both women and men are victims of
violence. However, whereas men tend to experience non-domestic violence, women are
more frequently exposed to violence in their closer social circle. Violence constitutes a
problem that must receive more attention in the context of health-related intervention
and prevention in future, and cannot be dealt with adequately without explicitly taking
gender into account.
To promote a gender-based approach to maintaining a healthy and safe natural environment,
gender-differentiated data collection and the creation of a gender-oriented database
must be implemented as central criteria in environmental studies. The relevancy of
gender aspects is demonstrated, for example, in workplace-related and everyday exposure
to chemicals. Specific toxicokinetic features and differing sensitivities to toxic substances
can lead to gender-specific differences in exposure to chemicals in the everyday
environment. Men and women are also differently affected by urban and traffic planning
measures and exhibit differing transport use behaviour. Numerous research projects in
the context of health and the environment directly touch on gender issues, however they
do not usually analyse their findings separately by gender. Insufficient “know-how” regarding
the possible integration of gender perspectives appears to be a central obstacle
in the field of environmental studies in particular; as a result, no significant gendercomparative
data are available in Switzerland.
Summary Gender Health Report Switzerland | 22