Challenges Faced by Woman Radiation Oncologists (WRO) in South Asia

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the work, environment, personal challenges and financial satisfaction of woman radiation oncologists (WRO) in South Asia. A 28-point online questionnaire was responded by 258 WRO from south Asia. The questionnaire consisted of 7 sections: personal, professional/academic, family, financial, workplace burnout, academic/research components and challenges exclusive to being a working woman. Participants were from India (73.4%), Bangladesh (14.8%), Nepal (7.9%), and Pakistan (3.9%). No participants from Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Afghanistan. Age distribution was <30y (26.8%), 30-50y (61.1%), and >50y (12.1%). Of the participants, 52.9% were independent consultants while the rest were working under a consultant. Of the respondents, 67.3% were married and 59.5% were mothers. Single mothers were 5.7%. 41.3% of married WRO (MWRO) reported being denied maternity leave partially. 52.3% of all responders and 68.5% of the MWRO found motherhood as the biggest hurdle for carrier growth. Overall, 60.1% felt there was a gender bias in the department and 34.8% reported they were either gained or lost an overseas training / a job due to their gender. 36.9%, 43.3%, 25.5% and 30.6% of responders felt they could have done better in financial, professional, academic and social perspective respectively, had they belonged to opposite gender. Only 16.4% MWRO had income 1.5-2 times higher than their partners while 31% and 28.5% were earning equal and less than 1/2 times respectively. 58.9% were earning at par with their male colleagues in the department. 43% of all participants were financially satisfied being RO while 36.7% thought they could have done better had they chosen some other super-specialty. 39.9% WRO had sufficient earning to satisfy all their family needs without compromising existing lifestyle. 25.3% were satisfied with both working conditions and financial compensation while 36.1% were unsatisfied and the rest (38.6%) were unsatisfied with at least one component. Overall, 25.5%, 27.8%, 7% and 39.8% faced burnout in office and home, only in office, only in home and no burnout respectively. As a thesis guide for post graduate students 81% have no student, while 8.2% have 1-5 student, 4.4% each have 6-10 and 11-20 students and 1.9% have >21 student until now. 12% of the WRO were not interested at all in research/publication, 53.8% were interested but faced time constraint for doing research, 44.3% found facility was insufficient for research and 24.7% felt untrained doing research. 57% of WRO had 0 and 2.5% of WRO had ≥ 10 Scopus publications in last 2 y. This study clearly indicates a large fraction of WRO in south Asia is discontented as being a woman, as RO, as mother and as lone-earner in the family. They faced a gender biasness. Nevertheless at least >55% WRO are doing better financially than their male counterpart in department/city. WROs in South Asia need to be motivated and supported more to deliver better in professional and personal life.