7 One Health, gender and intersectionality

One Health recognises the close links between human health, animal health, plant health and the health of the wider environment (WHO, n.d. 2). One Health emphasises the interactions of the ecosystem, removes binaries and rejects a reductionist approach (Zinsstag et al., 2015). You can learn more about One Health in the course Introducing a One Health approach to AMR.

There is therefore significant overlap between One Health and intersectionality theory, which emphasises how different SDHs and power relations overlap and intersect to create specific experiences. Both One Health and intersectionality highlight how the combination of various factors experienced at individual and group levels is influenced by societal processes and structures of power (Davis et al., 2025 [forthcoming]).

Using an intersectional lens to study AMR is critical to understanding how individuals experiencing multiple forms of marginalisation may face heightened vulnerability. This includes thinking about how people’s physical and social locations shape their vulnerability, susceptibility and experiences of AMR, and how these overlap with other contextual issues such as climate change and conflict.

This course takes a primarily human-centred lens, but there are many ways in which power structures and harmful gender norms intersect with animal health and environmental health. These concepts are explored more in Video 4 from the Just Transition initiative.