Diversity, equality and inclusion in women’s healthcare (EDI)

Abstract

Introduction: gender inequalities continue to be a key social determinant of health, reflected in access to services, decision making and representation in research and leadership. An understanding of how gender and other intersectional factors affect health care is essential for building more equitable and effective healthcare systems.

Objectives: to review the recent literature on diversity, equality and inclusion (EDI) in women’s health care, emphasizing their role as patients, professionals and researchers.

Methods: a narrative review was done of articles published between 2018 and 2025 in PubMed, Scopus and SciELO. Original articles, systematic reviews and relevant editorials dealing with gender equality in health were included.

Results: gaps remain in female diagnosis, biomedical research and leadership. Sociocultural norms, gender stereotypes and institutional structures perpetuate inequality. Various studies show that inclusion and diversity in medical and research teams favor quality of care, innovation, and scientific representativeness.

Conclusions: promoting women’s equality in health requires eliminating structural biases, recognizing the diversity among females, and encouraging their full participation in clinical practice, healthcare management, and biomedical research.