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Since the early 1990s, countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region have made admirable progress in reducing the gap between girls and boys in areas such as access to education and health care. Indeed, almost all young girls in the Region attend school, and more women than men are enrolled in university. Over the past two decades, maternal mortality declined 60 percent, the largest decrease in the world. Women in MENA are more educated than ever before. It is not only in the protest squares that have seen women whose aspirations are changing rapidly but increasingly unmet. The worldwide average for the participation of women in the workforce is approximately 50 percent. In MENA, their participation is half that at 25 percent. Facing popular pressure to be more open and inclusive, some governments in the region are considering and implementing electoral and constitutional reforms to deepen democracy. These reforms present an opportunity to enhance economic, social, and political inclusion for all, including women, who make up half the population. However, the outlook remains uncertain. Finally, there are limited private sector and entrepreneurial prospects not only for jobs but also for those women who aspire to create and run a business. These constraints present multiple challenges for reform. Each country in MENA will, of course, confront these constraints in different contexts. However, inherent in many of these challenges are rich opportunities as reforms unleash new economic actors. For the private sector, the challenge is to create more jobs for young women and men. The World Bank has been pursuing an exciting pilot program in Jordan to assist young women graduates in preparing to face the work environment.

Inequality and the lack of inclusion of women in academic higher education (HE) leadership roles persist globally. While inclusivity at the top also applies to ethnicity and disability, the issue of gender is the focus of this article. More specifically, the distinct need is to examine the barriers that slow down and/or obstruct women from advancing in academia and gaining leadership positions. Thus, the purpose of this study is to provide a review of the case in Jordanian Universities. It presents the prevailing situation from the results of a desktop study and a survey questionnaire of the barriers that impede career progression for women in HE. The severity index (SI) formula is used to delineate critical barriers found in the literature in a Jordanian context through a questionnaire. Factor analysis was used to group the critical barriers, which in turn was used to derive an action plan to improve career progression for female academics. The study exposed that women's participation in leadership was determined to be low, which is attributed to several barriers: sociocultural barriers, gender stereotypes, lack of skill and opportunities, work-life conflicts, social network obstacles, mentoring and support, and poor institutional policies that support women. As a result, several actions are recommended to support an increase in female leaders.

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among Jordanian women. Breast self-examination (BSE) plays a vital role in the early detection of breast cancer, improving survival rates. Despite its proven benefits, BSE remains underutilized in Jordan. This study aimed to explore the factors influencing BSE practices among married Jordanian women aged 20-49 years, utilizing data from the Jordan Population and Family Health Survey (JPFHS). The study analyzed data from the 2023 JPFHS, encompassing a representative sample of 12,595 Jordanian women aged 15-49. The study examined various socioeconomic, demographic, behavioral, and geographic variables. Socioeconomic and demographic factors included age, education level, wealth index, employment status, marital status, parity, and current pregnancy status. Behavioral factors encompassed smoking frequency and media consumption habits, such as internet use, the frequency of watching television, listening to the radio, and reading newspapers or magazines. Geographic variables included the type of residence (urban or rural) and the governorates where participants lived. Associations between these variables and BSE were assessed using multivariable logistic regression. Among the 12,304 married women included in the analysis, 9,851 women reported not performing BSE, while 2,453 women indicated that they had. Multivariate analysis revealed that significantly better BSE practice was observed among older women (e.g., age 45-49 vs 20-24: AOR 3.08, p < 0.001), those with higher education levels (e.g., secondary vs no education: AOR 2.41, p = 0.027), and wealthier women (e.g., richest vs poorest: AOR 1.54, p = 0.023). Additionally, multiparous women, daily smokers, and women with frequent internet use and frequent reading of newspapers or magazines were also more likely to practice BSE. Regional differences showed that women in Ajloun, Aqaba, and Balqa were more likely to perform BSE, while women in Irbid and Mafraq had lower rates of BSE practice. To improve BSE rates among married women in Jordan, targeted health campaigns should focus on younger, less educated, and economically disadvantaged women, particularly in Irbid and Mafraq. Culturally sensitive education, digital platforms, and community outreach can raise awareness and address barriers like stigma and misconceptions, promoting proactive breast health practices nationwide. Future researchers are encouraged to further investigate cultural barriers toward BSE.

(1) Background: War and displacement are well-known predictors of negative mental health outcomes among affected populations. This is especially relevant for refugees of war, particularly women, who often repress their mental health needs due to family responsibilities, social stigma, and/or cultural pressures. In this study, we compared the mental health status of urban Syrian refugee women (n = 139) with local Jordanian women (n = 160). (2) Methods: Psychometrically validated Afghan Symptom Checklist (ASC), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Self-Report Questionnaire (SRQ) examined psychological distress, perceived stress, and mental health, respectively. (3) Results: According to independent t-tests, Syrian refugee women scored higher than Jordanian women on the ASC [mean score (SD): 60.79 (16.67) vs. 53.71 (17.80), p < 0.001], PSS [mean score (SD): 31.59 (8.45) vs. 26.94 (7.37), p < 0.001], and SRQ [mean score (SD): 11.82 (4.30) vs. 10.21 (4.72), p = 0.002]. Interestingly, both Syrian refugee and Jordanian women scored higher than the clinical cutoff in the SRQ. Regression analyses indicated that more educated women were less likely to score high on the SRQ (β = −0.143, p = 0.019), particularly in the anxiety and somatic symptoms subscale (β = −0.133, p = 0.021), and were less likely to exhibit symptoms of ruminative sadness (β = −0.138, p = 0.027). Employed women were more likely to exhibit high coping ability than unemployed women (β = 0.144, p = 0.012). (4) Conclusions: Syrian refugee women scored higher than Jordanian women in all used mental health scales. Access to mental health services and enhancing educational opportunities would help mitigate perceived stress and may enhance stress-coping abilities.

This study examines the factors perceived by women academics as hindering their professional growth in developing countries, using Jordan as a case study. The study adopts a feminist empiricist approach to investigate how and why women academics perceive institutional and informal policies and structures in their universities as reproducing gender inequality, favoring male academics, or whether this is due to a lack of gender-sensitive policies. It accordingly suggests means to redress. The study also explores the respondents' perceptions of mentoring as a means of advancing professional growth. The study employs a quantitative research approach and surveys 211 women academics across six universities. The identified gender-related barriers were: 1. Institutional bias and gender norms, 2. women’s underrepresentation in leadership positions, 3. work–family balance and gendered expectations, 4- access to networking and the feeling of exclusion. Furthermore, mentorship and growth were explored in two main domains: 1. The impact of gender-sensitive mentorship and empowerment, and 2. The benefits of having mentorship within an institution include practical, academic, and institutional benefits. In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of considering new structures and processes alongside existing ones when evaluating the performance of women academics.

This paper aims to explore the experiences of female leaders considering the interplay of gender, religion, and culture. Drawing on an inductive-qualitative study, the paper examines perceptions regarding the role of religion and cultural norms in women’s ascension into leadership positions in Jordan. The results indicated that Jordanian women leaders adopted an Islamic feminist worldview and did not embrace a liberal nor a socialist/Marxist feminist worldview. Women leaders seemed wanting to claim their religion back from those forces that are reportedly holding their aspirations hostage to monolithic interpretations of religious texts. By constantly referring to their religion, female leaders wanted to be granted spaces of trust and responsibility in leadership positions that they did not see contradictory to the way they understood their faith. The paper provides insights into how women leaders understand prejudicial stereotypes and discrimination in their society, explaining how those are linked to patriarchal socio-cultural traditions emphasizing male control.

Background In Jordan, obesity has emerged as a significant public health concern, particularly among females, with a prevalence of 43.1%. This rising trend, exacerbates the burden of non-communicable diseases and places increasing strain on the healthcare system. Aim We aimed to explore the predictors associated with obesity among adult ever-married Jordanian women aged 20–49 years based on the Jordanian Population and Family Health Survey (JPFHS). Method Our study analyzed data from the JPFHS conducted in 2017-18, which initially included 14,689 ever-married women. We performed multivariable analyses to determine the socio-demographic predictors of obesity among these women. Result We included 4,339 Jordanian women in our study, of whom 2,189 were classified as obese and 2,150 had a normal body mass index (BMI). Multivariable analysis indicated that increasing age and living in Tafilahwere significantly associated with higher odds of developing obesity ( p  < 0.05). Conversely, factors such as being in the wealthiest category, residing in Ma’an and Aqaba, and smoking every day were significantly linked to reduced odds of obesity ( p  < 0.05). Additionally, no significant associations were found between obesity development and variables such as the type of place of residence, educational level, frequency of reading newspapers or magazines, radio listening, television watching, or internet use in the past month ( p  > 0.05). Conclusion Appropriate and targeted interventions should be developed for Jordanian women to address obesity and its related health issues. Policymakers should adopt a multilevel approach that focuses on high-risk subgroups, including older women, and those living in Tafilh. Efforts should be made to raise awareness and provide preventative measures tailored to these groups to effectively reduce obesity and its associated complications.

The use of skin-lightening products (SLPs) among Jordanian women has immensely increased and healthcare professionals have a vital role in raising public awareness of SLPs. The aim of this study is to identify SLPs practices among Jordanian women and their basic knowledge of the agents and the side effects associated with using these products. A cross-sectional study conducted during October to December of 2022. Jordanian women above 18 years of age were invited to participate via a survey link. Descriptive statistics were used, and logistic regression was applied to screen for variables affecting the knowledge score of the participants. The mean age of the study participants (n = 384) was 32.04 (SD = 12.678). Results demonstrated that more than half of the participants (n = 193) reported current or past use of SLPs. Additionally, less than one-fifth (18.2%) of the participants (n = 70) reported previously experiencing some side-effects after using SLPs. About 90% of participants thought that these side-effects were caused by the active ingredients in SLPs. Most of the participants were able to identify some of the active ingredients used in SLPs such as Vitamin C (87.8%) and Hydroquinone (62.0%). It was also found that young participants, and those employed, or university students had higher knowledge scores of SLPs' active ingredients, and of their side-effects. This study demonstrated that Jordanian women are adequately informed about skin-lightening products. Moreover, the practices revealed an educated pattern of action when obtaining information regarding SLPs. Fundamentally, healthcare providers should be influential in educating consumers on the proper use. Strict guidelines and policies should target the practices concerned with these products.

Background Obesity prevalence has been rising globally, including in Jordan. This study seeks to examine the socio-demographic factors associated with obesity among adult ever-married women in Jordan, utilizing the most recent data from the 2023 JPFHS. Methods This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the 2023 JDHS, encompassing a representative sample of 4,048 Jordanian women aged 15–49. Socioeconomic variables examined included age, education level, wealth index, urban or rural residence, and media consumption habits (television, radio, magazines/newspapers, internet usage) along with smoking status. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to determine the associations between these factors and obesity risk. Results Of the 4,048 married women included in the analysis, 1,697 (41.9%) had a normal BMI, while 2,351 (58.1%) were classified as obese. Multivariate analysis revealed that increasing age (45–49 years: AOR 20.93, 95% CI 13.40–32.70), daily internet use (AOR 1.33, 95% CI 1.02–1.74), listening to the radio less than once a week (AOR 1.40, 95% CI 1.03–1.91), and residing in Karak (AOR 2.13, 95% CI 1.34–3.38) or Ajloun (AOR 1.75, 95% CI 1.12–2.72) were significantly associated with higher odds of obesity. Conversely, reading newspapers or magazines at least once a week and daily cigarette smoking were linked to a reduced risk of obesity. No significant associations were observed between obesity and place of residence, wealth index, educational level, television viewing habits, or residence in other governorates. Conclusion With obesity rates continuing to rise, targeted health programs for Jordanian women of reproductive age are essential. National health initiatives should focus on promoting healthy lifestyle habits, addressing regional disparities, and encouraging balanced media consumption to mitigate obesity risk. Region-specific prevention and awareness campaigns are also vital for effective intervention.