Gender-sensitive health reporting in the EU and OECD: insights from a cross-country review

Abstract

Gender-sensitive health reporting is essential to identify and address health inequalities, yet health reporting and monitoring systems across the EU and OECD remain fragmented and inconsistent. Approaches differ in how gender is conceptualized, which topics are covered, and how findings are presented and intended to inform policy. To date, a systematic overview of current practices and gaps is still lacking. We present results from a scoping review of academic and grey literature covering 54 OECD and EU member and accession states. The review maps gender-sensitive reporting approaches, including national reports, thematic publications (e.g., women’s and men’s health), and indicator-based monitoring systems. It examines how gender is operationalized, which domains are covered, and where gaps remain. Findings show a heterogeneous landscape. Some countries have established women’s health reporting or integrate gender into routine health reporting, while others lack systematic approaches. Key areas such as sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence, and selected chronic conditions are unevenly covered. Intersectional perspectives are rarely included. At the same time, existing examples demonstrate how gender-sensitive monitoring can inform policy and improve visibility of health inequalities. In this presentation, we highlight gaps and discuss transferable practices to inform gender-sensitive health monitoring across the EU and OECD. Strengthening such systems is critical for evidence-based and equitable public health action. This contribution is part of the pilot “Gender-sensitive health indicators for public health reporting” (GBE-GI), embedded in the Joint Action Prevent Non-Communicable Diseases (JA PreventNCD), one of the aims of which is to strengthen health information systems across participating European countries.