This collection of articles addresses the issue of health from a gender perspective. Health is not only a matter of science and biology, but also social and gender issue. While a biological advantage means female life expectancy should be longer than men's, in many contexts around the world women's rates of sickness and premature death outstrip those of men.

Issues covered include women's comparative lack of access to medical care throughout the life-cycle; mental health; why infectious diseases are a gender issue; the role of older women in health promotion; gender-sensitive...