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Sufferings of Elderly Rural Women Due to Covid-19 in Communities of a Remote Region: An Observational Study

Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: COVID-19 pandemic caused an unprecedented impact on society globally. Objective: Study was conducted to know about sufferings experienced by rural elderly women in a remote hilly region. Methodology: Community-based, cross-sectional, observational study included 4500 randomly selected tribal women of ≥50, who resided in 140 villages and consented to participate. Face-to-face interviews of participants were conducted, for 15-30 minutes, using a semi-structured questionnaire regarding sufferings of elderly women during COVID-19 pandemic. Results: Of 4500 women interviewed, majority (47.2%) were 50-59 years old, low educated (40.4%), agriculture labourers (44.1%) and of lower economic class (53.8%). Of all participants, 73.5% reported change in everyday life, 25.9% change in meals, 30.7% in work and working environment and 39.5% in health care. Of all the women interviewed, 45.9% reported physical violence (PV), majority (74.1%) by husbands, 0.4% suffered sexual violence (SV). Modes of PV were mostly slapping, hitting, or kicking. Of all the women, who suffered PV, SV, and majority informed their family members, but only 7.0% informed police, however 98.6% who suffered sought healthcare. Socio-demographic factors like age, education, economic class, and occupation had a significant relationship with sufferings of women during pandemic. Conclusion: Covid -19 Pandemic had significant impact on rural elderly women’s lives, 45.9% and 0.4% of women respectively reported having suffered PV and SV at home during pandemic. It is therefore necessary to generate awareness, formulate laws, policies for protection of elderly women during such pandemic.
DOI: 10.31579/2690-8808/262
Language: English
Field: Psychology
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4412458013
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