Women and men are different as regards their biology, the roles and responsibilities that

society assigns to them and their position in the family and community. These factors have a

great influence on causes, consequences and management of diseases and ill-health and on

the efficacy of health promotion policies and programmes. This is confirmed by evidence on

male– female differences in causespecific mortality and morbidity and exposure to risk

factors. Health promoting interventions aimed at ensuring safe and supportive environments,

healthy living conditions and lifestyles, community involvement and participation, access to

essential facilities and to social and health services need to address these differences between

women and men, boys and girls in an equitable manner in order to be effective.

The feminist perspective has highlighted their involvement in enhancing women's health and

access to healthcare services since the 1990s. In addition, males have recently brought

attention to the negative effects of masculinity on their own health. As the various sides

compete for the public's sensitivity and understanding, this has exacerbated tension in the

debate over this topic. However, for gender sensitive approaches to succeed, it is necessary to

take a fair action regarding how gender affects health, as this will provide as a guide for

gender sensitive policies that will treat the requirements of men and women differently. The

health of many women and girls around the world has suffered greatly as a result of gender

inequality in the modern world. (Mccginnis et al., 2002), government funding for health

promotion campaigns is typically restricted in most nations. For example, Canada spends less

than 3% of its health budget on health promotion (Hylton, 2003). In the USA, approximately

95% of the health expenditure goes to direct medical care services, whereas only 5% is

allocated to prevention activities (Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2000).

Therefore, it is of utmost importance to invest these limited resources in preventive activities

with high potential for success and cost-effectiveness. Before the Ottawa Charter emerged, a

medical strategy was used to address public health concerns, focusing on individual risk
taking. The notion of health promotion was first embraced at the Ottawa conference in 1986.

(WHO, 2005). Health promotion is described as "a process of enabling people and

communities to increase control over, and to improve their health and quality of life" by the

World Health Organization (WHO) This strategy highlights the active involvement that

individuals, organizations, and groups have in enhancing health as well as their numerous

effects on health. The idea that a person's health or the health of their community is

influenced by a variety of factors classified as social determinants of health, with gender

being the discussed issue, is increasingly being discussed in relation to how relevant men and

women experience, react to, and intervene in programs on health promotion (Annandale, et

al., 1996). This describes gender as a set of interconnected psychological, social, and

biological differences, with some of these biological variations between men and women

referring to how reproductive systems and hormones function (Zaidi, 1996). However, the

term "sex" refers to the biologically based differences between men and women, while the

term "gender" refers to the differences between these two sexes in terms of economic,

cultural, social, and political standing (Labonte et al., 2008). The interaction of these factors

shapes how people perceive their needs in terms of health. Alternatively said, the term

"gender" refers to a broad range of "socially constructed roles, behaviours, activities, and

qualities that a specific society finds proper for both men and women" (World Health

Organisation, 2004). As one of the social determinants of health, gender plays a role in the

behaviours listed for health promotion. However, because of existing bias and stereotypes

that it creates, access to other social determinants of health is hampered (Labonte et al.,

2008). The correct understanding of gender issues, particularly the perception of women's

interests and health needs resulting from various gender roles, goes beyond gender

sensitivity. Identification of difficulties brought on by discrimination and gender inequality is

another aspect of gender awareness (Zaidi, 1996). To ensure that men and women benefit
equally, the United Economic and Social Council describes gender mainstreaming as "a

technique for making both men and women's concern a major part of the design,

implementation, monitoring and assessment of policies in all political and economic arenas"

(UNDP, 2012).

EIGE (European institute for gender Equality) shows different component of gender-main-

streaming.

World health Organisation explain health as ‘the state of complete, physical, mental and

social wellbeing, rather than a mere absence of disease or infirmity’ (WHO, 1946) meaning

health has to do with the total wholeness of man (either male or female).According to this,

health is a practical resource for daily life. Although there has been progress in addressing

gender inequality using gender sensitive approaches in health promotion as this has an

influence on HIV prevention, this posed a challenge to various theoretical perspectives

varying from different dimensions. Gender inequality in health issues has, however, been a

relevant area of research since the 1970s (Keleher, 2004).