02771nas a2200193   4500000000100000008004100001260000800042100001200050700001800062700001100080700002400091700001300115700002400128245017100152856009600323300002500419520210800444022002502552       2025                            d  bBMJ1 aMier AR1 aEchavarria MI1 aAwor P1 adel Pilar-Labarda M1 aKharel C1 aOtmani del Barrio M00aExploring gender and intersecting social stratifiers at a community level: insights from three social innovation research hubs in Colombia, the Philippines and Uganda  uhttps://innovations.bmj.com/content/bmjinnov/early/2025/02/09/bmjinnov-2024-001284.full.pdf  abmjinnov-2024-0012843 a<p>Background</p>

<p>Social innovations have been recognised as potential interventions to address health disparities, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. In the context of social innovation research, understanding how gender intersects with other social stratifiers is crucial, as these intersections are shaped by power imbalances and systems and structures of oppression, influencing health vulnerability, access to services and treatment outcomes. Prompted by the Intersectional Gender Research Strategy set up by the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), three hubs of the Social Innovation in Health Initiative aimed to explore how gender dimensions played a role in existing social innovation projects at a community level.</p>

<p>Methods</p>

<p>We purposefully conducted the research in selected areas where social innovations in health were operating—sites in Colombia, the Philippines and Uganda. Qualitative methods, including semistructured interviews and focus group discussions, were used to gather in-depth insights. An iterative, inductive process of open coding guided the analysis, allowing themes to emerge organically and ensuring findings were grounded and contextually relevant.</p>

<p>Results</p>

<p>The following insights were drawn: (a) vulnerability and disease exposure stem from deeply ingrained patriarchal societal structures wherein social innovations operate; (b) gender norms and gender roles influence the participation in social innovations and health programmes; (c) The lack of women’s autonomy and gender-based discrimination remains a crucial challenge in the achievement of equitable health and (d) social innovations in health recognise the unique challenges faced by women and girls and respond by designing tailor-fit interventions to address these specific needs.</p>

<p>Conclusion</p>

<p>Incorporating an intersectional gender lens can lead to a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the relationship between social innovations in health and the communities that they operate in.</p>
  a2055-8074, 2055-642X