STM Article Repository

Disparities in the incidence of SLE between the male and female gender are well known but the reasons for these disparities from a gender perspective have not been properly addressed. This study analyzes the incidence of SLE and its consequences from a gender based perspective using data obtained from SLE patients in Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, over a period of 10 years. Results obtained shows that cultural and economic based gender discrimination may be a vital reason for the high occurrence of SLE in women. Similarly, the myth that lupus is a woman’s disease and the social cultural roles associated with men may be the reason why there is a higher rate of fatality in the male gender compared with the female gender. This study concludes that policies/advocacy for combating gender based discrimination and encouraging more gender awareness activities as it relates to preventing/reducing SLE incidence should be designed and implemented.