Gender-based disparities on health indices during COVID-19 crisis: a nationwide cross-sectional study in Jordan
Abstract Background COVID-19 has an inevitable burden on public health, potentially widening the gender gap in healthcare and the economy. We aimed to assess gender-based desparities during COVID-19 in Jordan in terms of health indices, mental well-being and economic burden. Methods A nationally rep...
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doaj-0f0fceb94a8f4949b76f8e5bb73aa7cb2021-04-11T11:28:12ZengBMCInternational Journal for Equity in Health1475-92762021-04-0120111010.1186/s12939-021-01435-0Gender-based disparities on health indices during COVID-19 crisis: a nationwide cross-sectional study in JordanMohammad Abufaraj0Zaid Eyadat1Mohammed Qussay Al-sabbagh2Abdullah Nimer3Immanuel Azaad Moonesar4Lin Yang5Walid Al Khatib6Ra’eda Al-Qutob7Division of Urology, Department of Special Surgery, Jordan University Hospital, The University of JordanCenter of strategic studies, the University of JordanSchool of Medicine, The University of JordanSchool of Medicine, The University of JordanHealth Administration & Policy, Mohammed Bin Rashid School of GovernmentCancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research, Cancer Control Alberta, Alberta Health ServicesCenter of strategic studies, the University of JordanDepartment of Family and Community Medicine, Faculty of medicine, The University of JordanAbstract Background COVID-19 has an inevitable burden on public health, potentially widening the gender gap in healthcare and the economy. We aimed to assess gender-based desparities during COVID-19 in Jordan in terms of health indices, mental well-being and economic burden. Methods A nationally representative sample of 1300 participants ≥18 years living in Jordan were selected using stratified random sampling. Data were collected via telephone interviews in this cross-sectional study. Chi-square was used to test age and gender differences according to demographics, economic burden, and health indices (access to healthcare, health insurance, antenatal and reproductive services). A multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the beta-coefficient (β) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of factors correlated with mental well-being, assessed by patients’ health questionnaire 4 (PHQ-4). Results 656 (50.5%) men and 644 (49.5%) women completed the interview. Three-fourths of the participants had health insurance during the COVID-19 crisis. There was no significant difference in healthcare coverage or access between women and men (p > 0.05). Half of pregnant women were unable to access antenatal care. Gender was a significant predictor of higher PHQ-4 scores (women vs. men: β: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.54–1.22). Among women, age ≥ 60 years and being married were associated with significantly lower PHQ-4 scores. Only 0.38% of the overall participants lost their jobs; however, 8.3% reported a reduced payment. More women (13.89%) were not paid during the crisis as compared with men (6.92%) (P = 0.01). Conclusions Our results showed no gender differences in healthcare coverage or access during the COVID-19 crisis generally. Women in Jordan are experiencing worse outcomes in terms of mental well-being and economic burden. Policymakers should give priority to women’s mental health and antenatal and reproductive services. Financial security should be addressed in all Jordanian COVID-19 national plans because the crisis appears widening the gender gap in the economy.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-021-01435-0COVID-19GenderMental healthPsychological stressWomen health |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Mohammad Abufaraj Zaid Eyadat Mohammed Qussay Al-sabbagh Abdullah Nimer Immanuel Azaad Moonesar Lin Yang Walid Al Khatib Ra’eda Al-Qutob |
spellingShingle |
Mohammad Abufaraj Zaid Eyadat Mohammed Qussay Al-sabbagh Abdullah Nimer Immanuel Azaad Moonesar Lin Yang Walid Al Khatib Ra’eda Al-Qutob Gender-based disparities on health indices during COVID-19 crisis: a nationwide cross-sectional study in Jordan International Journal for Equity in Health COVID-19 Gender Mental health Psychological stress Women health |
author_facet |
Mohammad Abufaraj Zaid Eyadat Mohammed Qussay Al-sabbagh Abdullah Nimer Immanuel Azaad Moonesar Lin Yang Walid Al Khatib Ra’eda Al-Qutob |
author_sort |
Mohammad Abufaraj |
title |
Gender-based disparities on health indices during COVID-19 crisis: a nationwide cross-sectional study in Jordan |
title_short |
Gender-based disparities on health indices during COVID-19 crisis: a nationwide cross-sectional study in Jordan |
title_full |
Gender-based disparities on health indices during COVID-19 crisis: a nationwide cross-sectional study in Jordan |
title_fullStr |
Gender-based disparities on health indices during COVID-19 crisis: a nationwide cross-sectional study in Jordan |
title_full_unstemmed |
Gender-based disparities on health indices during COVID-19 crisis: a nationwide cross-sectional study in Jordan |
title_sort |
gender-based disparities on health indices during covid-19 crisis: a nationwide cross-sectional study in jordan |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
International Journal for Equity in Health |
issn |
1475-9276 |
publishDate |
2021-04-01 |
description |
Abstract Background COVID-19 has an inevitable burden on public health, potentially widening the gender gap in healthcare and the economy. We aimed to assess gender-based desparities during COVID-19 in Jordan in terms of health indices, mental well-being and economic burden. Methods A nationally representative sample of 1300 participants ≥18 years living in Jordan were selected using stratified random sampling. Data were collected via telephone interviews in this cross-sectional study. Chi-square was used to test age and gender differences according to demographics, economic burden, and health indices (access to healthcare, health insurance, antenatal and reproductive services). A multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the beta-coefficient (β) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of factors correlated with mental well-being, assessed by patients’ health questionnaire 4 (PHQ-4). Results 656 (50.5%) men and 644 (49.5%) women completed the interview. Three-fourths of the participants had health insurance during the COVID-19 crisis. There was no significant difference in healthcare coverage or access between women and men (p > 0.05). Half of pregnant women were unable to access antenatal care. Gender was a significant predictor of higher PHQ-4 scores (women vs. men: β: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.54–1.22). Among women, age ≥ 60 years and being married were associated with significantly lower PHQ-4 scores. Only 0.38% of the overall participants lost their jobs; however, 8.3% reported a reduced payment. More women (13.89%) were not paid during the crisis as compared with men (6.92%) (P = 0.01). Conclusions Our results showed no gender differences in healthcare coverage or access during the COVID-19 crisis generally. Women in Jordan are experiencing worse outcomes in terms of mental well-being and economic burden. Policymakers should give priority to women’s mental health and antenatal and reproductive services. Financial security should be addressed in all Jordanian COVID-19 national plans because the crisis appears widening the gender gap in the economy. |
topic |
COVID-19 Gender Mental health Psychological stress Women health |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-021-01435-0 |
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