Addressing gender bias in sexual and reproductive health care: A scoping review of training tools and interventions
6 affiliations
- 1Department of Biology, Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
- 2Cochrane Nigeria, Institute of Tropical Diseases Research and Prevention, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria
- 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria
- 4Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Computing, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
- 5Syndicate Bio, Lagos, Nigeria
- 6Department of Paediatrics, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria
Abstract
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.
Related
- Mental health literacy training interventions for future health professionals: An evidence and gap mapping scoping review
- Gender-based discrimination towards cisgender women in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review of definitions and measures used in the health literature
- Virtual Placebo: a scoping review of control conditions in randomized controlled trials of psychological immersive virtual reality interventions
- Reporting Randomised Trials of Physical Exercise or Training Interventions in Older Adults
- Use of "Non-Traditional" Animal-Assisted Interventions in Children: A Scoping Review.
BibTeX
@article{oringanje2026addressing,
title = {{Addressing gender bias in sexual and reproductive health care: A scoping review of training tools and interventions}},
author = {Chioma Oringanje and Joshua Meremikwu and Babasola Okusanya and Chukwudi Moses Oringanje and Moriam Chibuzor and Ememobong Aquaisua and Anthony Okoro and Deborah Ndukwu and Martin Madu Meremikwu},
journal = {PLOS One},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0359704},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0359704},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Addressing gender bias in sexual and reproductive health care: A scoping review of training tools and interventions
AU - Chioma Oringanje
AU - Joshua Meremikwu
AU - Babasola Okusanya
AU - Chukwudi Moses Oringanje
AU - Moriam Chibuzor
AU - Ememobong Aquaisua
AU - Anthony Okoro
AU - Deborah Ndukwu
AU - Martin Madu Meremikwu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/13
JO - PLOS One
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0359704
UR - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0359704
AB - 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.
SN - 1932-6203
ER -