Final answer:
Gender equality has a significant impact on health and healthcare in developed countries, leading to disparities in access and quality of care. Initiatives are being implemented to address these disparities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Gender equality has a significant impact on health and health status in developed countries. In the United States, for example, race and gender disparities exist in healthcare, with African American women facing higher rates of emergency room visits and unmet healthcare needs. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals also often experience poor quality of care due to stigma and lack of understanding. Additionally, women may face unequal access to healthcare and institutionalized sexism, resulting in a decline in their ability to see needed specialists and potential delays in seeking healthcare due to cost. To address these disparities, initiatives like the U.S. government's Healthy People 2020 aim to eliminate gender and race disparities in healthcare.