Exploring gender and intersecting social stratifiers at a community level: insights from three social innovation research hubs in Colombia, the Philippines and Uganda

Background

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.

Methods

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.

Results

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.

Conclusion

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.