Gender matter and the challenge for improving community health and well-being

Present paper introduces the special issue focused on the gender perspective and health in the community in Italian context. After a brief analysis of the disparity and inequity that still persist at the European and Italian level, we present six papers realized in different Italian region that demonstrate different elements of the complex gender matter and challenges of well-being and health process in the community. Taking into account the differences between men and women from social vulnerability and risk point of view, and the unequal power relationships between the sexes could improve the efficacy of intervention and prevention actions. Through these series of papers, we aimed to contribute to the debate about how gender perspective can shape the study and the intervention in the to promote health and well-being that takes into account both individual and community health. Gender is revealed in many ways one of the key determinants of health in order to better understanding and planning intervention in health services, improving the health of women and men. Furthermore, more attention and reflection are needed to promote policy interventions for health and to consider he contribution of the woman to the health of the community.