- This is the first study to look at the impact of Covid-19 on gender equality.
- Women and girls were disproportionally affected by the pandemic.
- For example, access to women’s health services has been negatively affected by the pandemic.
The Covid-19 pandemic has led to gender disparities in health, social, and economic areas, with women being disproportionately affected. A new study is the first comprehensive report on gender disparities indirectly caused by the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The study published in The Lancet explored the indirect effects of Covid-19 on gender disparities globally.
The researchers compiled information from 13 datasets with gender-specific data from 193 countries. The information related to vaccine hesitancy and uptake, healthcare services, economic and work-related concerns, education, and safety at home and in the community.
Inequality gap widens
The study found that the most significant and most persistent gender gap was seen in employment and uncompensated labour, with 26% of women worldwide reporting a loss of work compared to 20% of men in September 2021.
The results also show that the impact of Covid-19 increased the chances of women and girls dropping out of school across the world. The pandemic also increased the likelihood of women and girls reporting gender-based violence.
In terms of vaccine hesitancy, the study did not find a significant difference in reported vaccine hesitancy between men and women globally.
The study also found that the pandemic compromised health care services for women. There were disruptions in providing sexual, reproductive, and maternal health services. The researchers recommend that policymakers prioritise social programmes for women and girls to deal with inequality.
“Fostering women’s economic empowerment can, in turn, also contribute to the ability of women to overcome barriers they face in health care and enable them to situate themselves in environments that minimise their risk of gender-based violence,” the study states.
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