Primary health care: a preferred health service delivery option for women.

It is well known that gender is a determinant of health, but less understood is whether differences in health status attributable to gender can be mitigated through the implementation of primary health care. Primary health care, notably distinct from primary care, refers to a wide-ranging approach to the delivery of a comprehensive variety of health services. This article traces the similarities between primary health care and women-centred care from their overlapping philosophical foundations to the similar health, social, and economic benefits of both approaches. It is argued that investments in primary health care positively impact women's health, and, as such, should be a preferred option for the delivery of women's community health services. Several models of health service delivery that operate in accordance with principles of primary health care and also address the key tenets of women's-centred care are examined and their merits are compared. The article also identifies the major impediments to the adoption of both primary health care and women's-centred care approaches.