Incorporating gender in the anthropology of infectious diseases

The paper focuses on key issues in research and control of infectious disea ses and demonstrates the utility of combining a gender perspective with ant hropological investigation both for understanding disease and for designing and evaluating interventions for its control. Based on a definition of gen der as opposed to sex, it illustrates, with the help of a gender framework for tropical diseases, how this concept is applied. It argues that gender-s ensitive research is essential to the understanding of the nature of the di sease, its prevalence, distribution, determinants and consequences. Example s are taken from anthropological studies on infectious diseases, including research on urinary schistosomiasis, malaria, leprosy leishmaniasis and onc hocerciasis. How gender-sensitive qualitative research can guide the design and evaluation of appropriate interventions for the prevention and control of infectious diseases is also discussed.