A new study has revealed how gender roles and social norms profoundly influence Nigeria’s causes, burden and workforce responses to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), offering fresh evidence to shape more equitable health policies.
Titled “Through a Gender Lens: A Scoping Review of Gendered Experiences of AMR Causes, Burden, and Workforce in Nigeria,” the study was made available to the media on Friday in Abuja.
The research was conducted by a multidisciplinary team of Nigerian scientists and public health experts, including Estelle Mbadiwe, a pharmacist with Ducit Blue Solutions; Dr. Ayodele Majekodunmi, Kikiope Oluwarore, Dr Mabel Ajumobi (DVM, MPH, PhD, FCVSN), Dooshima Kwange and Mwapu Ndahi.
The scoping review analysed 47 peer-reviewed studies and revealed that men and women experience AMR in markedly different ways, from risk of exposure to antibiotics to access to treatment and involvement in the AMR workforce and decision-making.
Mbadiwe, one of the study’s contributors, stressed that in a world facing a growing AMR threat, ignoring gender dimensions is no longer an option. She explained that women are disproportionately exposed to antibiotics, often due to their roles as primary caregivers, yet they remain underrepresented in AMR leadership and policymaking spaces.
The study found that women are more likely to be responsible for administering antibiotics at the household level and for managing infections in children, the elderly and livestock. However, they face systemic barriers to accessing professional healthcare and participating in decision-making processes that shape health outcomes.
It also called for a One Health approach that recognises women’s roles in healthcare delivery, includes them in system planning, and strengthens their leadership in AMR responses. According to Mbadiwe, building inclusive systems that recognise the intersection of gender, care work and health equity is crucial to tackling AMR effectively.
These findings come at a critical moment, as Nigeria works to strengthen its National Action Plan on AMR in line with global efforts led by the World Health Organisation and its Gender Equality Strategy.
The authors urged policymakers to integrate gender-disaggregated data into AMR surveillance, improve women’s access to health information and services, and support female health professionals at all levels. The study contributes meaningfully to advancing gender equity in health and shaping future AMR strategies, research funding, and leadership development across Nigeria’s healthcare system.
