There is increasing recognition in the field of international health and nutrition that gender inequities and dynamics are a major social determinant of health and nutrition outcomes. However, reviews of evidence to date have tended to concentrate on comparisons of health and nutrition outcomes, healthcare utilisation or coverage of services/programmes between boys and girls or women and men. This review of the literature and accompanying guidance document respond to a range of questions exploring more broadly the ways in which gender influences household dynamics in relation to aspects of young child health and nutrition.
The review covers micro-credit and cash transfer schemes, their design features in relation to gender and the outcomes, both positive and negative. The literature review and guidance document highlight the importance of considering three areas in health and nutrition work; women’s status and bargaining power; gender divisions of labour; and gender norms, values and identities