Muhanad Ali
University of Toronto Scarborough Campus, Canada
Title: Gender Dynamics and Socio-cultural determinants of MERS-CoV in Saudi Arabia
Biography
Biography: Muhanad Ali
Abstract
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a severe viral respiratory illness that is caused by a new strain from the beta group of coronavirus (CoV). At both the global and national level within Saudi Arabia, men are at a greater risk of contracting the virus (68%) in comparison to women, which fosters an interesting question (6) – What accounts for these gender-based differences in the MERS infection rates between men and women? This study seeks to challenge the assumption that biological differences in vulnerability (genetic disposition) are the primary drivers for the disparate male infection rates, and shift towards a framework of analysis that embraces the unique dynamics of gender roles. To demonstrate this analytical framework, this paper will consider several gender-based risk factors, such as gender segregation, religious and cultural practices, and social roles pertaining to livestock management within Saudi Arabia. The literature review examined for this study found that gender-based risk factors (gender segregation, religious and cultural practice, and social roles pertaining livestock management) may lead to varying rates of exposure to MERS-CoV. Moreover, it illustrated a gap in our current knowledge and understanding of how gender dynamics affect infectious diseases, especially concerning the issue of containment of and protection from MERS.