Masculinity and health equity: gender-responsive and -transformative interventions for men of colour in the USA

Health inequities among men of colour in the USA are shaped by intersecting structural forces such as racism, economic inequality and rigid gender norms. Gender-responsive and gender-transformative interventions aim to address these disparities by promoting health-supportive behaviours and challenging harmful norms. Their application with men of colour, however, remains limited. This scoping review mapped the characteristics, frameworks, outcomes and gaps in gender-responsive and gender-transformative health interventions for men of colour in the USA. Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we searched five databases and the grey literature for peer-reviewed studies (2000-2024) that addressed men of colour using gender-informed approaches. We extracted data on study design, theory and outcomes and conducted a thematic analysis. Nine interventions met our inclusion criteria. Most were group-based, community-delivered interventions addressing mental health, gender norms, intimate partner violence or fatherhood. Many used cultural tailoring and peer facilitation, though few were explicitly labelled as gender transformative. Gaps included the limited inclusion of Asian American, Indigenous and queer and rural men of colour, as well as minimal long-term data and intersectional analysis. While gender-responsive and gender-transformative interventions may hold promise, future work should expand cultural specificity, address structural barriers and explicitly engage with intersectional frameworks.