Gender-related factors affecting health seeking for neglected tropical diseases: findings from a qualitative study in Ethiopia

Abstract

Despite known gender-specific differences in terms of prevalence, transmission and exposure to neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), there is limited discussion of the influence of gender in NTD programmes and interventions. There is a paucity of research on how gender interacts with NTD service provision and uptake. This study, part of broader implementation research in Ethiopia, applied a gender lens to health seeking for five NTDs: lymphatic filaria-sis, podoconiosis, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminth infection and trachoma.