Gender perspective and determinants associated with the women-informal or primary care link

Abstract

The primary caregiver is a fundamental part of the health-disease process of the patient with a disabling, chronic or transitory illness. The participation of women in care is greater compared to men, this happens in various studies of informal caregivers of various diseases or disabling conditions. Feminist economics, from the perspective of care economics, points out the importance of considering the determining role of gender relations to explain the concentration of women in care activities and the minimal or less favorable participation in the work market. The objective of this narrative review is to recognize some sociodemographic characteristics that allow the problem to be analyzed from a gender perspective, especially to make visible the determinants associated with the link between women and primary or informal care.

The recent approval of the national care system is a small advance in the challenge that care for primary caregivers entails, however, it is necessary to generate public policies that contribute to the well-being of caregivers, starting from the recognition of their needs in the different areas. It is important to consider social changes, population aging, the increase in the number of dependent people, whether due to age or disability, demographic changes, and new family, work and cultural models.