Gender equality is a fundamental pillar of a thriving society, where both women and men should have equal opportunities to shape their lives and influence society. But what is the status of gender equality according to the UN Agenda 2030, Goal 5, regarding health and healthcare in Sweden?

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Statistics show that women report health problems to a greater extent than men, particularly in areas such as mental health, where the prevalence is increasing more among girls and young women. On the other hand, more men than women die as a result of suicide, workplace accidents, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. These differences can be partly explained by gender-specific norms that influence how men and women seek care, the diagnoses they receive, and the treatment they are offered. Within the curriculum of the naprapathy program, gender equality is an integrated component, aimed at enabling reflection on why and how health disparities between the genders can be leveled.

The education concludes with the course “The Naprapath in Professional Life: Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion”. The goal of the course, which explores the intersection between healthcare and marginalized groups, is to introduce the student to issues of inequality within and between different social categories and groups. Inequalities are addressed at various societal levels and from different theoretical, ethical, and normative perspectives, as well as for different types of health outcomes and different types of healthcare. The future naprapath also gains tools, both theoretical and practical, that can be used within healthcare and practical public health work to strive for increased equality.
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Helène Schulte, Licensed Physician, PhD
Principal, School of Naprapathy