Opinion: Why Gender Matters In Fight Against Antimicrobial Resistance

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is widely recognised as a global health threat. Yet, what is less acknowledged is that AMR does not impact on all populations equally. Gender — a key determinant of health — remains largely absent from both research and policy responses to AMR. A growing body of evidence, including research from India, shows that biological differences, social roles, and systemic inequities expose women to unique risks, while also limiting their access to appropriate care.

A recent research paper in BMJ Global Health, authored by Srishti Goel, Dr Esmita Charani, and Dr Deepshikha Batheja (co-author of this article) outlines how gender roles, biological differences, and social norms create disproportionate risks for women.

The Biology-Society Overlap

Women face unique health challenges throughout their lives. From menstruation and unsafe abortions to childbirth and menopause, they encounter a higher risk of infection and, consequently, antibiotic exposure.

Poor access to sanitation, menstrual hygiene, and maternal care compounds these risks — particularly in low-resource settings. For example, sepsis remains a leading cause of postpartum deaths, and antibiotics are often used preventively during caesarean births and complications. But indiscriminate or unmonitored antibiotic use can quickly turn lifesaving medicine into a source of harm. It's a double-edged sword.

Access Isn't Always Empowerment

Healthcare access is conditional. Two in five Indian women seek permission to travel for treatment. Even when they do reach care, their symptoms may be downplayed or dismissed.

A study from Kolkata found that male family members often refer to women's illnesses as "light diseases". This trivialisation leads to delays in treatment and drives self-medication — a known driver of resistance.

The Caregiver's Burden

Globally, women perform 76% of unpaid care work and constitute 67% of frontline health workers. This constant exposure — in clinics, kitchens, and livestock farms — increases their infection risk, yet they often have little control over how they receive care.

In agrarian households, women manage poultry and livestock, handling potential carriers of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Still, they are rarely included in training or given protective gear.

What The Data Says

A 2025 study, Gender Inequality and Antibiotic Consumption, analyses global pharmaceutical sales data. The researchers found out that when more women are educated and part of the workforce, antibiotic use tends to decrease.

For example, countries with more women in jobs or with secondary education see lower antibiotic consumption. However, in places with a larger female population overall, antibiotic use is often higher — likely due to greater healthcare needs related to reproductive and gender-specific conditions. While women's political representation had little effect on overall antibiotic use, the study emphasises that real impact lies in economic empowerment, education, and community-level interventions.

One Story, Many Systems

This reminds us that AMR isn't just about pathogens — it's about people. It's about the systems that serve them, or fail to. If we want our antimicrobial strategies to succeed, they must be grounded in the social realities of those most affected.

The fight against AMR cannot be won in labs and hospitals alone. It must begin in households — where antibiotics are easy to get but understanding and support are much harder to find. 

Dr Deepshikha Batheja is Principal Research Scientist and  Amanjeet Singh is Senior Manager at the Max Institute of Healthcare Management at Indian School of Business.

[Disclaimer: The opinions, beliefs, and views expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this website are personal and do not reflect the opinions, beliefs, and views of ABP News Network Pvt Ltd.]