CEDAW/C/1996/3/Add.1
English
Page 8
underreporting and to develop research and data collection methods to fill the
information gap.
27. The special programme for research and training in tropical diseases is
concerned that both biomedical and social research on the effects of tropical
disease on women have been too narrowly focused on reproductive health, and is
promoting research on the determinants and consequences of tropical diseases for
women. In collaboration with the International Development Research Centre in
Canada, it is running the Fourth Special Programme for Research and Training in
Tropical Diseases/IDRC Award in 1996, which is on gender, health and technology.
28. An informal working group on gender and health research has come together,
under the coordination of the Special Programme for Research and Training in
Tropical Diseases to discuss gender research issues of common concern. One of
its activities is a multicountry intervention study on the development of a
"Healthy women counselling guide". This is in the final stages of production
and aims to help policy makers and NGOs and others better address women's health
problems. A manual for health workers, entitled "Health workers for change",
which aims to increase health workers' effectiveness in meeting the needs of
female clients, will also be produced in 1995.
29. Several programme areas have worked to develop strategies to address the
gender aspects of diseases and health condition. The issue of women and drugs
was the subject of a consultation held in August 1993. A United Nations systemwide position paper on women, drug abuse and HIV/AIDS and a number of other
documents will provide an essential contribution to the 1995 Conference in
Beijing. They include "Women and substance abuse: A gender analysis and review
of health and policy implications"; "Women and substance abuse: 1992 interim
report"; and "Women and substance abuse: 1993 country assessment report". A
project is under way on the victimization of women substance users, which aims
to sensitize drug treatment agencies to gender issues, particularly the special
needs of women. A report entitled "Preventing fetal effects of substance
abuse", which will include guidelines for the selection of appropriate
educational messages on psychoactive drug use and pregnancy, will soon be
published. A multi-agency project on women and substance abuse may be developed
in cooperation with the United Nations Drug Control Programme and other United
Nations organizations.
Programme on tuberculosis
30. This programme is carrying out research to improve understanding of the
differences between men and women in terms of the risk of infection with
tuberculosis; risk of progression from infection to disease; barriers to access
for tuberculosis care; and the socio-economic impact of tuberculosis. With this
information, it will make recommendations for changes in tuberculosis control
programmes to ensure optimal tuberculosis control for both genders, and will
make recommendations for cost-effectiveness for tuberculosis control
interventions. Two documents are due to be produced this year: "Gender
differentials in TB: A review of the role of socioeconomic and cultural
factors" and "A review of epidemiological data".
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