Effect of COVID-19 lockdown on health of women in Pakistan - Socioeconomic perspective

Abstract

Objectives: This study investigates the dimensions of women’s experiences during the COVID-19 lockdown in Pakistan, considering their historical vulnerability to natural disasters. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Pakistan from May to September 2020 at Services institute of medical Sciences, Lahore. An online survey collected socio-demographic data, household responsibilities, and access to medical services using a self-designed questionnaire. Women aged 18 years and above (n=1307) were included through convenience sampling. Data analysis utilized SPSS 20.0. Results: Of the surveyed women, 10 (14.9%) experienced improved health outcomes, while 39 (58.27%) faced poor health outcomes. Proper access to medical services was reported by 29 (43.3%) participants, while 38 (57.1%) had no access. Two women (3.0%) conceived during the lockdown. 45 (67.2%) women lived in nuclear families, and 21 (31.3%) in joint family systems. Additionally, 46 (68.7%) women were significantly burdened with household chores, while 21 (31.3%) had a normal routine. Among COVID-19-positive respondents, 70% reported weight gain from increased screen time and sedentary lifestyle. Difficulties in managing children’s online classes were reported by 34.6% of participants. Moreover, 84% had a monthly income below one hundred thousand PKR. Among women aged 23-28 years, 30.9% had adverse effect on their husband’s income, and 4.7% experienced unemployment. Unfortunately, 16% of respondents lost a relative due to COVID-19. Even with access to health facilities. Conclusion: The COVID-19 lockdown in Pakistan led to adverse socioeconomic and health outcomes for women. These findings highlight the measures needed to address women’s challenges amid pandemic impact. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.3.8312 How to cite this: Baig AM, Riaz M, Moazzam A, Bokharey IZ. Effect of COVID-19 lockdown on health of women in Pakistan- Socioeconomic perspective. Pak J Med Sci. 2024;40(3):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.3.8312 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.