Impact of COVID – 19 on mental health and physical load on women professionals: an online cross-sectional survey

Abstract

In December, 2019, a pathogen was identified and named as 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). To prevent its spread, lockdowns were announced and working women had to perform dual roles: work from home and work for home. In the present study researchers aimed to assess mental and physical load on Indian women professionals during lockdown due to COVID-19. An online cross-sectional survey was carried out using a Google form. The questionnaire consisted of queries based on following domains: demographic details, awareness of COVID-19 pandemic, analysis of mental health of participants during lockdown, estimate of physical load for work from home, physical load due to house hold chores and overall effect on health. The sample was collected from 28th April to 12th May 2020 and 537 responses were recorded from women working from home as well as working for home through snowball sampling technique. Mental health was moderately and severely affected in 27.5% and 27% of participants respectively. 34.3% experienced great increase in physical load due to house hold chores during lockdown. 45.81% reported pain in neck and back region with 36.31% participants reported strain in their eyes sometimes. 15.08% and 8.37% had a tendency to over react in the present situation often and always respectively. The women performing work from home and work for home during the lock down are going through moderately increased physical and mental load. Their health is also affected by development of musculoskeletal problems.