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Creating the Future We Expect: Enhancing Women’s Health, Well-Being, and Gender Equality

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2025 | Viewed by 11281

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Audrey J. Murrell

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Business Administration, Psychology, Public and International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh, 4200 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
Interests: mentoring and career development; gender and diversity in organizations; minority/women contracting and supplier diversity; social issues in management; social identity theory and applications
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Esa M. Davis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Career Education and Enhancement for Health Care Research Diversity (CEED) Program, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 5260, USA
Interests: understanding the development of obesity in women; behavioral factors associated with the racial and socioeconomic disparities in health outcomes for women; addressing diversity and inclusion within academic medicine leadership

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Racial and ethnic disparities in women’s health and well-being have persisted over time. This includes the factors that create and perpetuate disparities in physical, mental, social and economic well-being for women. Factors that contribute to these persistent disparities that have been the focus of existing research include material health inequities, clinical and non-clinical interventions, persistent impact of racism and sexism in access to adequate care and the limitation of social and health care policies to address persistent disparities. This special issues seeks papers both empirical and theoretical that advance our understanding of how to address, reduce and ultimately eliminate these disparities in all aspects of health and well-being for women. This includes address gender equality across all aspects of life and life stages. We welcome both research, policy and papers that highlight innovate approaches to create meaningful and lasting change in the health and well-being of women across all stages in their lives and throughout all communities both locally and globally.

Potential topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

  • Social, structural, and political determinants of health that influence maternal health outcomes (e.g. racism, housing, transportation, family paid leave, and nutrition)
  • Impact of social inequities and persistent racism or sexism on health and well-being
  • Factors that impact maternal well-being and health outcomes
  • Understanding the role of the built environment for disparities in health and well-being outcomes
  • Addressing barriers in access and inclusion within health care systems and experiences
  • Impact of disparities on physical and mental health outcomes
  • Addressing disparities in leadership that impact organizational and social policies around health disparities
  • Examples of effective interventions and efforts to reduce disparities for women’s well-being
  • Community-engaged research and examples of “best practice” in addressing racial, gender and economic disparities in health and well-being
  • Environmental impacts that promote disparities in health outcomes and overall well-being

Prof. Dr. Audrey J. Murrell
Dr. Esa M. Davis
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • health disparities
  • women and well-being
  • gender equality
  • racial equality
  • social barriers to well-being
  • barriers to access

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 584 KiB  
Article
A Miseducation: Perspectives on Sexuality Education from Black Women in the US South
by Rebecca Hailu Astatke, Yves-Yvette Evans, Stephanie Baker, Monica Simpson and Terri-Ann Thompson
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(11), 1516; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21111516 - 14 Nov 2024
Viewed by 414
Abstract
Over the last three decades, the receipt of formal sexuality education has declined, with half of adolescents nationwide receiving the minimum Healthy People standard of sexuality education from 2015 to 2019. Further, racial and geographic inequities in sexuality education remain, with Black women [...] Read more.
Over the last three decades, the receipt of formal sexuality education has declined, with half of adolescents nationwide receiving the minimum Healthy People standard of sexuality education from 2015 to 2019. Further, racial and geographic inequities in sexuality education remain, with Black women and girls more likely to receive abstinence-only-until-marriage instruction. We sought to describe Black women’s sexual education in two southern states, North Carolina and Georgia. We conducted a qualitative community-based participatory research study. We held focus-group discussions with forty-nine Black women in Georgia and North Carolina between May 2019 and January 2020. The research team, the reproductive justice organization, and the Research Board reviewed, discussed, and refined themes developed using deductive thematic analysis. Most participants were employed. The median age was twenty-seven. From the participants’ accounts, we observed the inadequacy of sexuality education and the resulting process of unlearning inaccurate, negative information and learning positive and accurate information about sexuality. Participants expressed a desire for accessible, high-quality sexual education for themselves and the next generation that addresses autonomy, pleasure, and consent. Our findings highlight the need for investment in existing community efforts and in creating high-quality, culturally responsive comprehensive sexuality education nationwide to effectively address structural barriers to accessing sexuality and relationship information and skills. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Creating the Future We Expect: Enhancing Women’s Health, Well-Being, and Gender Equality)
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21 pages, 3725 KiB  
Article
Built Environment and Gender-Based Vulnerability as Key Drivers of Food Insecurity in Allegheny County
by Alex Firestine and Audrey J. Murrell
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(7), 906; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21070906 - 11 Jul 2024
Viewed by 941
Abstract
Food insecurity is pervasive in Allegheny County, as one in five residents experiences food insecurity. Food insecurity is linked to chronic health conditions like heart disease and hypertension and disproportionately affects women in the United States, particularly women who are head of household. [...] Read more.
Food insecurity is pervasive in Allegheny County, as one in five residents experiences food insecurity. Food insecurity is linked to chronic health conditions like heart disease and hypertension and disproportionately affects women in the United States, particularly women who are head of household. There are multiple dimensions used to measure regional disparities in food accessibility. Prior research has examined the linkages between food access and food insecurity, and this study aims to explore further the relationship between equitable access to sustainable and affordable food sources. This study examines food outlets in Allegheny County to determine if there is a significant relationship between food outlet availability and food insecurity. Both the presence and accessibility of these food outlets were examined. To measure accessibility, the walking distance to the nearest public transportation stop was calculated for each public transportation stop. The minimum distance to each food outlet was compared to food insecurity rates on a census tract level. Results showed that communities without grocery stores had lower access to healthy and affordable food sources. Also, communities with a higher proportion of female-headed households experienced greater food insecurity, regardless of access to food outlets. There was no statistically significant relationship between the distance from public transportation stops to grocery stores and rates of food insecurity overall and in low-income communities. However, communities with inaccessible grocery stores, either absent in the census tract or without close public transport stops, did have even greater average rates of food insecurity if there was an above-average proportion of female-headed households. Based on these findings, it is evident there exist structural elements of the built environment that correspond with disproportionate rates of food insecurity experienced by communities with households that are predominately female headed. In addition to resource support for these marginalized groups, we suggest that sole reliance on distance as an indicator of food insecurity can be misleading. There should be a greater focus on walkability aggregated on a household or individual level within the community instead of physical distance alone at a general scale. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Creating the Future We Expect: Enhancing Women’s Health, Well-Being, and Gender Equality)
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29 pages, 1825 KiB  
Article
Health Experiences of African American Mothers, Wellness in the Postpartum Period and Beyond (HEAL): A Qualitative Study Applying a Critical Race Feminist Theoretical Framework
by S. Michelle Ogunwole, Habibat A. Oguntade, Kelly M. Bower, Lisa A. Cooper and Wendy L. Bennett
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(13), 6283; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20136283 - 3 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 6680
Abstract
The objective of this study is to explore the cultural, social, and historical factors that affect postpartum primary care utilization among Black women with cardiometabolic risk factors and to identify the needs, barriers, and facilitators that are associated with it. We conducted in-depth [...] Read more.
The objective of this study is to explore the cultural, social, and historical factors that affect postpartum primary care utilization among Black women with cardiometabolic risk factors and to identify the needs, barriers, and facilitators that are associated with it. We conducted in-depth interviews of 18 Black women with one or more cardiometabolic complications (pre-pregnancy chronic hypertension, diabetes, obesity, preeclampsia, or gestational diabetes) within one year of delivery. We recruited women from three early home-visiting programs in Baltimore, Maryland, between May 2020 and June 2021. We used Critical Race Feminism theory and a behavioral model for healthcare utilization as an analytical lens to develop a codebook and code interview transcripts. We identified and summarized emergent patterns and themes using textual and thematic analysis. We categorized our findings into six main themes: (1) The enduring influence of structural racism, (2) personally mediated racism in healthcare and beyond, (3) sociocultural beliefs about preventative healthcare, (4) barriers to postpartum care transitions, such as education and multidisciplinary communication, (5) facilitators of postpartum care transitions, such as patient–provider relationships and continuity of care, and (6) postpartum health and healthcare needs, such as mental health and social support. Critical race feminism provides a valuable lens for exploring drivers of postpartum primary care utilization while considering the intersectional experiences of Black women. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Creating the Future We Expect: Enhancing Women’s Health, Well-Being, and Gender Equality)
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16 pages, 828 KiB  
Article
Addressing Complex Social Problems Using the Lens of Family Violence: Valuable Learning from the First Year of an Interdisciplinary Community of Practice
by Heath Greville, William House, Stella Tarrant and Sandra C. Thompson
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 3501; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043501 - 16 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2300
Abstract
It is imperative that universities continue to explore innovations that support staff and student learning and pursue their mission to promote social responsibility and community service. Communities of Practice have been used to facilitate innovation and regenerate teaching and learning in tertiary contexts, [...] Read more.
It is imperative that universities continue to explore innovations that support staff and student learning and pursue their mission to promote social responsibility and community service. Communities of Practice have been used to facilitate innovation and regenerate teaching and learning in tertiary contexts, including interdisciplinary collaborations around complex problems. This study describes the challenges and achievements of the first year of an interdisciplinary Community of Practice which aimed to create innovative approaches to teaching and learning about family and domestic violence, a complex social issue, inherently gendered, which receives little attention across the University discipline areas, despite the centrality of this issue in much of the future work of University graduates within a range of professional areas. We interviewed engaged members to explore the value gained from their first year of involvement in the Community of Practice. This initiative brought members substantial value while recognising the need for long-term engagement and commitment from the senior University leadership to embed innovation. A key lesson was that developing an innovative curriculum to address critical and ongoing social and public health issues requires much more senior leadership, responsibilities shared across faculty, and commitment of dedicated resources and staff time. The findings provide valuable learning for other Communities of Practice attempting to engage with complex problems and create innovative interdisciplinary approaches to teaching, learning, and research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Creating the Future We Expect: Enhancing Women’s Health, Well-Being, and Gender Equality)
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