Who Is Caring for Health Care Workers' Families Amid COVID-19?
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.
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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