Exploring the Role of Gender in the Public Health Supply Chain Workforce in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Abstract

This article describes exploratory research conducted to understand pathways to entering the public health supply chain (PHSC) workforce in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to identify potential barriers for women working in this field and gather suggestions on how to improve gender equity in the PHSC workforce. Key informant interviews were conducted in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Malawi with health sciences students, health science education professionals, individuals currently working in the PHSC workforce, and global stakeholders. An online survey was conducted with responses from PHSC professionals across 26 countries. The survey and interviews revealed that respondents perceived that there were gender imbalances and inequities at all levels of the PHSC workforce. Respondents reported on barriers for women to receive the education, training, mentorship, and leadership opportunities needed to advance in this profession, barriers to traveling for work due to cultural norms and safety concerns, and a lack of policy and structural support for women to feel safe and supported at work. To improve gender equity in the PHSC workforce, we recommend strengthening career pathways for women; fostering mentorship opportunities among women; making recruitment practices more gender sensitive; implementing gender-sensitive policies; improving access to financial, physical, and technological resources; collecting and using gender-disaggregated data; and increasing the number of women in leadership positions.