Open AccessCoping with COVID-19 pandemic lockdown – The lady doctors perspective
Author(s) -
Indu Bansal Aggarwal,
Jaishree Ganjiwale,
Aparna R. Parikh,
Nirali Trivedi,
Satinder Kaur,
Rachana Chennamaneni,
Neha Choudhary,
Roshni Pande,
Sonal Dande,
Priya Iyer
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
indian journal of medical sciences/indian journal of medical sciences (print)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1998-3654
pISSN - 0019-5359
DOI - 10.25259/ijms_319_2021
Subject(s) - pandemic , covid-19 , medicine , feeling , coping (psychology) , mental health , family medicine , perspective (graphical) , new normal , nursing , psychiatry , psychology , social psychology , disease , pathology , artificial intelligence , computer science , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Objectives: This study is about the challenges faced by the women doctors in India during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and Methods: We conducted an online survey in 2020 for women doctors who were professionally engaged in active patient management in India before the onset of the current pandemic. Results: A total of 260 valid responses were received. Only 28% (73/260) were able to provide at least 50% of professional services as compared to the pre COVID-19 lockdown period. Statistically significant differences related to emotional health (feelings), physical activity, changes in how family sees the lady professional, personal free time availability, and family bonding. Conclusion: COVID-19 has led to the following important concerns for professional women - academic productivity; work-life balance; missed opportunities for collaborating; mental health, the need for equity-minded academic leadership, and decision-making. Our study showed that majority were stressed during the COVID-19 lockdown – with the impact being highest among those giving more than 50% of their time to professional medical services outside their homes.