Gender Dimensions of Malaria Burden

Kansiime Agnes

Department of Clinical Medicine and Dentistry Kampala International University Uganda

Email: agnes.kansiime.2974@studwc.kiu.ac.ug

ABSTRACT

Malaria remains a major global health concern, disproportionately affecting populations in sub-Saharan Africa and other endemic regions. While biological factors determine susceptibility to infection, gender plays a decisive role in influencing exposure, treatment-seeking behavior, and outcomes. This paper examines the gender dimensions of malaria burden, highlighting how social, cultural, and economic inequalities intersect with biological differences to shape vulnerability. Women, particularly pregnant women face elevated risks due to physiological susceptibility, limited mobility, financial constraints, and unequal decision-making power in households. Men, meanwhile, are frequently exposed through occupational activities such as farming and forest work but often delay seeking care due to sociocultural norms surrounding masculinity. The study emphasizes the role of community health workers (CHWs) in bridging access gaps, particularly for women in remote or resource-limited settings. It also explores gender-specific interventions, including tailored awareness campaigns and prevention strategies such as insecticide-treated net (ITN) distribution, which have proven effective in several African and Asian contexts. Despite progress, gaps persist in policy integration, data disaggregation, and gender-sensitive research. Addressing these disparities requires embedding gender analysis in malaria prevention, treatment, and policy frameworks. Through a gender-responsive approach aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) health systems can improve equity, strengthen community resilience, and accelerate the global drive toward malaria elimination.

Keywords: Gender and Malaria, Health Inequality, Community Health Workers (CHWs), Policy Integration and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

CITE AS: Kansiime Agnes (2025). Gender Dimensions of Malaria Burden. RESEARCH INVENTION JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC AND EXPERIMENTAL SCIENCES 5(3):47-56. https://doi.org/10.59298/RIJSES/2025/5314756