AI Insight
This scoping review examined 128 sources including training manuals and intervention studies designed to reduce gender bias among healthcare workers providing sexual and reproductive health services. The analysis found that most interventions used multiple teaching methods combining lectures, reflective learning, and experiential techniques like role-play, with 68.8% incorporating gender-transformative elements and 74.4% including system-level components. The review revealed considerable variability in how deeply gender-transformative and institutional approaches were integrated into existing training programs.
Why it matters
Gender bias in healthcare can lead to discrimination and unequal access to sexual and reproductive health services. This mapping of available training tools provides a foundation for improving how healthcare workers are educated to deliver more equitable, person-centered care and identifies gaps where training approaches could be strengthened.
Understand the Science
by Chioma Oringanje, Joshua Meremikwu, Babasola Okusanya, Chukwudi Moses Oringanje, Moriam Chibuzor, Ememobong Aquaisua, Anthony Okoro, Deborah Ndukwu, Martin Madu Meremikwu
Gender norms and bias influence how health workers interpret and deliver sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services, contributing to stigma, discrimination, and inequities in care. This scoping review aimed to map training tools and educational interventions designed to strengthen health workers’ competencies and address gender bias in SRHR care. This scoping review followed the Arksey and O’Malley framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Searches were conducted across multiple databases and organizational websites for literature published between 2000 and November, 2025. Eligible records included manuals, curricula, toolkits, and educational interventions targeting health workers and addressing gender norms, bias, values, or stigma in SRHR care. Data were extracted and synthesized using descriptive and narrative approaches. A total of 128 sources were included, comprising 25 toolkits/manuals and 103 intervention reports representing 100 unique intervention approaches. Together, they covered diverse SRHR domains and used multi-component pedagogical approaches, including didactic instruction (98.4%), reflective or values-based learning (83.2%), and experiential methods such as role-play, simulation, and case-based learning (92%). Most interventions emphasized equitable, person-centered care (98.4%) and 68.8% incorporated gender-transformative elements, while 74.4% included system-level components. Across the mapped literature, gender-transformative and system-level approaches were incorporated to varying degrees, reflecting variability in their integration across educational interventions. Overall, the review highlights the breadth and characteristics of existing training approaches and identifies opportunities for greater integration of gender-transformative and system-level strategies in future SRHR training and evaluation.