The increase in women's representation in Brazilian politics is reflected in a lower mortality rate in children under 5 years of age and this positive impact is also observed when women represent at least 20% of those elected to state legislative assemblies and the federal chamber. The data come from a study published on July 7 in the scientific journal “Health Affairs” by researchers from the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), State University of Campinas (Unicamp), University of the Andes, in Bogotá and the Inter-American Development Bank, in Washington. The study was funded by the Urban Health Research Project in Latin America (SALURBAL).
The authors draw attention to the record in the country, in the last two decades, of a large drop in infant mortality, according to them, motivated mainly by substantial investments in social programs and primary health care and the evidence that female policies generally are more likely than men to support these programs, the objective of the work was to evaluate the relationship between women's representation in politics and decision-making to reduce infant mortality and to what extent investments in social programs are inserted in this context.
To analyze associations between women's political empowerment and infant mortality, the authors gathered a longitudinal database of live birth records between 2000 and 2015. From a total of 5.565 municipalities, 3.167 municipalities were selected. The inclusion criterion was to have a registration system with less than 10% missing data (failures in death certificate registrations were more frequent in the initial years of the analyzed period).
Independent of the political spectrum
Based on the adopted methodology, it was possible to analyze variables separately, which included inferring based on the party of each mayor and deputy. The finding was that the effect is independent of whether the elected representative is from a left, center or right party. “We evidence that the representation of women in politics, regardless of the spectrum of political ideology, reflects in greater implementation of public social policies and measures that favor public health”, highlights the researcher from the Center for Studies and Research in Food (NEPA) at Unicamp, professor Ana Clara Duran, one of the authors of the study.
According to Ana Clara, infant mortality rates in children under 5 years of age were maintained even after adjustments to the coverage of Bolsa Família and the Family Health Strategy, two programs that have proven to be responsible for drops in infant mortality. in Brazil. “With this, we conclude that although the increase in coverage of these programs has been important for the drop in infant mortality in Brazil, we can also say that the presence of women in the local executive and legislative branches also impacted the result.”
The researcher envisions that the result of the work could contribute to reducing women's resistance to running for office and could influence voters' decisions in the next elections, showing that women are not only capable, but also more aware of improving the population's health. . “We also believe that this study can help civil society demand that parties respect the quotas for female candidates in the next elections and invest in their campaigns in the same proportion as they invest in their male candidates”, wishes Ana Clara Duran.
The author concludes that, at this time of health crisis due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the strengthening of female candidacies could represent a real impact on the strengthening, formulation and implementation of public social and health policies, essential to combat economic and health problems. health do not further affect the Brazilian population.
Read the article Increases In Women's Political Representation Associated With Reductions In Child Mortality In Brazil.
