Gender considerations in One Health: a framework for researchers

Knowledge, attitude, and practice of One Health and zoonotic diseases among multisectoral collaborators in Bhutan: Results from a nationwide survey

The One Health concept is increasingly employed to combat zoonotic diseases. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding One Health and zoonotic diseases among key sector professionals to identify gaps and opportunities for enhancing One Health strategies in Bhutan. A cross-sectional, facility-based study was used to conduct a nationwide online questionnaire survey using a validated and pre-tested questionnaire among professionals from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, and universities. Descriptive and summary statistics were calculated. Respondents were categorised into binary groups based on their knowledge, attitude, and practice scores relative to the mean. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the demographic factors associated with knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding One Health and zoonotic diseases. The survey achieved a 35% response rate, with 964 responses. The majority of respondents demonstrated above-average knowledge (63%), attitudes (50%), and practices (66%) regarding One Health. Professionals with master's degree or higher (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 2.39; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 1.16-5.12) were more likely to have above-average knowledge. Regarding zoonotic diseases, approximately half of the respondents had above-average knowledge (51%), attitudes (52%), and two-thirds (66%) had above-average practices. Professionals with mid-level job experience (6-10 years; AOR = 2.13; 95% CI = 1.37-3.30 and 11 to 15 years; AOR = 2.11; 95% CI = 1.31-3.40) were more likely to possess above-average knowledge. Gaps in training, communication, funding, research, and collaborations were identified. Targeted educational interventions, enhanced communication, strengthened collaboration, expanded research, and improved funding are essential for improving One Health approaches and zoonotic disease prevention and control in Bhutan. Our study findings provide valuable insights that can inform global efforts to enhance One Health systems, particularly in regions where resources are limited but disease risks are significant.

Animal health emergencies: a gender-based analysis for planning and policy

There has been increasing recognition of gender-based inequity as a barrier to successful policy implementation. This consensus, coupled with an increasing frequency of emergencies in human and animal populations, including infectious disease events, has prompted policy makers to re-evaluate gender-sensitivity in emergency management planning. Seeking to identify key publications relating to gendered impacts and considerations across diverse stakeholders in different types of animal health emergencies, we conducted a non-exhaustive, targeted scoping review. We developed a matrix for both academic and policy literature that separated animal health emergencies into two major categories: humanitarian crises and infectious disease events. We then conducted semi-structured interviews with key animal health experts. We found minimal evidence of explicit gender responsive planning in animal health emergencies, whether humanitarian or infectious disease events. This was particularly salient in Global North literature and policy planning documents. Although there are some references to gender in policy documents pertaining to endemic outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF) in Uganda, most research remains gender blind. Despite this, implicit gendered themes emerged from the literature review and interviews as being direct or indirect considerations of some research, policy, and implementation efforts: representation; gendered exposure risks; economic impact; and unpaid care. Absent from both the literature and our conversations with experts were considerations of mental health, gender-based violence, and intersectional impacts. To remedy the gaps in gender-based considerations, we argue that the intentional inclusion of a gender transformative lens in animal health emergency planning is essential. This can be done in the following ways: (1) collection of disaggregated data (race, gender, sexual orientation, etc.); (2) inclusion of gender experts; and (3) inclusion of primary gendered impacts (minimal representation of women in policy positions, gender roles, economic and nutrition impacts) and secondary gendered impacts (gender-based violence, mental health, additional unpaid care responsibilities) in future planning.