J Korean Soc Matern Child Health.  2020 Jan;24(1):40-51. 10.21896/jksmch.2020.24.1.40.

Development of Gender-Sensitive Comprehensive Health Matrix: A Comparative Study on the Cases of Sustainable Development Goals Countries and North Korea Based on Gender-Sensitive Indicators

• Bang Y
• Kwag Y
• Kim EM
• Ha E
• Kwon O
• Kim HS
• Kim H
• Kim SH
• Kim M
• Kim E
• Han JJ
• Jung K
• Ha H

• KMID: 2511152
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.21896/jksmch.2020.24.1.40

Abstract

Purpose
South Korea ranked 18th out of the 162 participating countries in the 2019 report on sustainable development goals (SDGs). Among the 17 specified goals, it has the most difficulty in achieving gender equality (SDG 5). This shortcoming is manifested in the lack of studies on gender-sensitive indicators. The study aims to establish the significance of the development of a comprehensive health matrix to concretize the concept of gender-sensitivity which is often considered as abstract.
Methods
An integrated analysis of health determinants was conducted through a convergence study involving medical, social and natural sciences. This analysis was based on both literature reviews and focusgroup discussions. The 6 following focal points were chosen based on the SDGs: gender equality, medicine, education, economy, nutrition, and environment. Objective quantitative indicators were then designated to each of the 6 areas and comparatively analyzed for South Korea, North Korea, and the other SDGs countries. Four areas on sexual and reproductive health were also selected.
Results
The results indicated that South Korea scored much lower than North Korea and the other SDGs countries in terms of gender equality. It was also behind North Korea in education, although North Korea had a comparatively lower ranking in the rest of the areas. On the other hand, it fared better than the aforementioned countries with respect to environment, nutrition, medicine, and economy.
Conclusion
A comprehensive gender-sensitive health matrix was developed to refine the abstract concept of gender-sensitivity through objective quantitative indicators that assess the health status of a country by means of a scoring system. Gender equality was also confirmed as a common and significant component in the disciplines of sexual and reproductive health and comprehensive health.

Keyword

Comprehensive health; South Korea; North Korea; Gender-sensitive; Gender and health; Gender equality

Figure

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  Fig. 1. The 17 sustainable development goals (Source: http://ncsd.go.kr/main).

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  Fig. 2. The radial graph for gender-sensitive comprehensive health matrix. (A) Mean of sustainable development goals (SDGs) country observations, (B) South Korea, and (C) North Korea.

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  Fig. 3. The radial graph for gender-sensitive comprehensive health matrix (by income level). (A) Low income countries, (B) lower middle income countries, (C) upper middle income countries, and (D) high income countries.

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  Fig. 4. Gender-sensitive comprehensive sexual and reproductive health matrix.

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