Reflections on the intersectional approach to women’s health

Abstract This analysis is based on, but not limited to, what was presented in Table 1 - “Intersectionality and women’s health of the Permanent Forum: social determinants in women’s health” that took place at the State University of Campinas - UNICAMP, whose objective was to promote the discussion on intersectionality as a category of analysis to broaden the understanding on the social determinants of health. It raises the need to question what is being understood by intersectionality and how to understand the social determinants of women’s health in research emanating from the field of health sciences. A brief historical framework on determinants is provided to illustrate the evolution of the analysis over time, along with the need to adopt an intersectional approach through Latin American theoretical reflection. The limitations and possibilities associated with combining these two approaches raise the urgency of interdisciplinary research with defined and contextualised epistemological frameworks. A final consideration is made on the synergy of approaches that can contribute to a deeper understanding of the social determinants of health.