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Who Is Caring for Health Care Workers' Families Amid COVID-19?
Robinson, Londyn J; Engelson, Brianna J; Hayes, Sharonne N.
  • Robinson LJ; L.J. Robinson was a fourth-year medical student, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, at the time of writing. She is a first-year resident, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, now; ORCID: 0000-0002-0961-4020.
  • Engelson BJ; B.J. Engelson is a second-year resident, Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota; ORCID: 0000-0002-6877-520.
  • Hayes SN; S.N. Hayes is professor of medicine and cardiovascular diseases, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota; ORCID: 0000-0003-3129-362X.
Acad Med ; 96(9): 1254-1258, 2021 09 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1104982
ABSTRACT
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, women in medicine, including faculty, residents, medical students, and other health care workers (HCWs), are facing unparalleled challenges. The burdens of pandemic-associated increases in domestic and caregiving responsibilities, professional demands, health risks associated with contracting COVID-19, and the resulting psychosocial distress have exacerbated existing gender disparities at home, at work, and in academia. School and day care closures have created additional childcare needs, primarily for women, yet little support exists for parents and families. These increased childcare and domestic responsibilities have forced women HCWs, who make up the overwhelming majority of the workforce, to adapt their schedules and, in some cases, leave their jobs entirely. In this article, the authors detail how COVID-19 has exacerbated existing childcare accessibility and affordability issues as well as gender disparities. They argue that unless government and health care organization support for childcare increases, families, specifically women and children, will continue to suffer. Lack of access to affordable childcare can prevent HCWs from doing their jobs, including conducting and publishing academic scholarship. This poses incalculable risks to families, science, and society. COVID-19 should serve as a call to action to all sectors, including the government and health care organizations, to prioritize childcare provision and increase support for women HCWs, both now during the pandemic and going forward.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Family / Child Care / Health Personnel / Sexism / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research Limits: Child / Child, preschool / Female / Humans / Infant Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: Acad Med Journal subject: Education Year: 2021 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Family / Child Care / Health Personnel / Sexism / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research Limits: Child / Child, preschool / Female / Humans / Infant Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: Acad Med Journal subject: Education Year: 2021 Document Type: Article