Bridging the gender gap: Gender dynamics and Marginalized Communities in Preventive Healthcare amidst Climate Change Challenges in Resource Constraint Communities.

[Cynthia Lamisi Anaba]

Climate change isn't just an environmental crisis – it's a human rights issue that disproportionately affects the most vulnerable among us. Recent research has shown that climate change significantly amplifies existing inequalities, with women and girls bearing an outsized burden of its impacts (Sidun et al., 2023). Nowhere is this more evident than in climate-hit countries, where the intersection of climate change and gender dynamics creates unique challenges in accessing healthcare services.

In some of these countries, the healthcare system is mostly resource-constrained, yet rather faces severe challenges from climate change impacts (Kulkarni et al., 2022). The rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall patterns are putting unprecedented stress on already fragile healthcare infrastructure. A recent comprehensive study by Klepac et al. (2024) highlights how these environmental changes are destabilizing healthcare delivery systems, particularly in rural areas where resources are already stretched thin.

For women and girls in these communities, the challenges are particularly acute. Traditional gender roles and deeply rooted sociocultural norms often limit their decision-making power and mobility within their communities (Tolhurst et al., 2007). When these existing constraints intersect with climate-induced stresses like water scarcity and food insecurity, the impact on health outcomes can be severe. Research by Nanda et al. (2022) demonstrates how water scarcity, exacerbated by climate change, directly correlates with declining health outcomes, particularly among women and girls in marginalized communities.

The barriers to accessing preventive healthcare services, such as antenatal care, family planning, and routine check-ups, have reached critical levels. Recent UNICEF (2024) assessments in Northern Ghana revealed alarming disparities in healthcare access between genders, with women and girls often unable to access essential services due to a combination of environmental and sociocultural factors. These findings align with broader research on climate change's impact on healthcare access, which consistently shows gender-based disparities in adaptation capacity and resilience (Rocque et al., 2021).

However, amidst these challenges, there are signs of hope and resilience. Some communities are developing innovative coping strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change on healthcare access. The key to sustainable solutions lies in understanding and building upon these local adaptation mechanisms while working towards more equitable systems. As highlighted by Sorensen et al. (2018), achieving sustainable development goals in healthcare requires explicitly addressing gender equity and climate resilience together.

Recent impact assessments have shown promising results when communities implement gender-responsive and climate-resilient healthcare strategies (Anton et al., 2024). These successful interventions typically combine:

- Enhanced understanding of local sociocultural contexts

- Development of climate-resilient healthcare infrastructure

- Programs specifically designed to empower women and girls through increased autonomy

- Creation of inclusive healthcare policies

- Strengthening of community resilience mechanisms

As we look to the future, the situation in Northern Ghana serves as both a warning and an opportunity. It reminds us that addressing climate change and gender inequality/inequity in healthcare access requires a comprehensive, nuanced approach that considers local contexts and builds on existing community strengths. By understanding and addressing these intersecting challenges, we can work towards healthcare systems that truly serve everyone, regardless of gender, even in the face of mounting climate pressures.

References

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