January 20, 2026
Overview:
Antibiotic resistance is a growing global health threat, and how people use antibiotics plays a big role in it. Gender, along with factors such as education, work opportunities, and representation in decision-making, can influence health behaviors and access to healthcare. This One Health Trust collaborative study examines whether gender inequalities are associated with antibiotic use across countries.
The Question:
Do gender inequalities, such as differences in education, employment, and political participation, affect the amount of antibiotics used in a country?
The Findings:
The researchers analyzed antibiotic use data from 70 countries over more than 20 years (2000–2022) and examined how antibiotic consumption changed alongside different measures of gender equality and found that:
- Antibiotic use varies widely across countries. When averaged across all countries studied, they found roughly 19 standard antibiotic doses being taken each day for every 1,000 people.
- Countries where more women have secondary or higher education tend to use fewer antibiotics.
- Countries with higher participation of women in the workforce also tend to have lower antibiotic use.
- A higher proportion of women in the overall population was linked to slightly higher antibiotic use, though the reason for this is not fully clear.
- Women’s representation in parliament was not linked to antibiotic use.
These patterns were consistent across different income groups and time periods.
The findings suggest that gender inequality is not just a social issue; it also affects how medicines, including antibiotics, are used. Improving access to education and employment for women could help promote more appropriate antibiotic use. To effectively tackle antibiotic resistance, the study highlights the importance of community-based and gender-responsive approaches.
Read the article in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy here.
