Gender, Health, and De velopment in the Americas: Basic Indicators 2013

Abstract

[Preface]. With this, the sixth edition of the biennial statistical brochure Gender, Health, and De velopment in the Americas: Basic Indicators we celebrate the first decade of this publication, which was conceived within the framework of international calls to improve the collection, analysis, dissemination, and use of information on gender and health. This edition, while similar in scope and structure to those of previous years, includes a greater number of indicators and topics, thus providing a greater body of evidence of health related differences between men and women. Further - more, age-adjusted mortality rates have been included to facilitate comparisons among countries, as well as information that brings to light certain underlying causes of unequal, and often restricted, access of women to health care [...] Data provide a clear picture of inequality in access to health care and health outcomes, as well as evidence to inform policy making in the health sector and beyond. Remaining information gaps regarding gender and health are a call to strengthen the necessary processes to enable all countries and territories in the Region of the Americas to systematically generate and collect disaggregated health data, not only by sex and age, but also by ethnicity and race, on migrant populations, area of residence, and other relevant variables. Such data will facili - tate a more comprehensive analysis of the diverse life contexts and realities of women and men in our Region. It will also help us to identify the causes of avoid - able inequalities, and to provide a timelier, more effective and sex specific response to the needs of the population.