Bridge over troubled waters: Women-led response to maternal and child health services in India amidst the COVID-19 pandemic
Document Type
Chapter
Publication Date
8-15-2023
Abstract
Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the delivery of essential health services in general and reproductive, maternal, newborn, child health, and nutrition (RMNCHN) services in particular. The degree of disruption, however, varies disproportionately. It is more in low-and middle-income countries than in high-income countries. Focusing on India, the authors draw on various demand and supply side factors that hampered the provision of RMNCHN services and thus adversely affected many families across the country. Coupled with the gendered aspects of the social determinants of health, the pandemic intensified social vulnerabilities by impacting pregnant and lactating women and children the most. Modelling studies suggest that the progress India made over a decade on various maternal and child health and nutrition indicators may go in vain unless focused efforts are made to address the slide. Complementing government efforts to mitigate the health risks of the pandemic by strengthening health services, women-led initiatives played an important role in portraying how women’s collectives and women in leadership can be like a bridge over troubled waters in the times of a pandemic.
Recommended Citation
Kant, Aastha and Avishek Hazra. 2023. "Bridge over troubled waters: Women-led response to maternal and child health services in India amidst the COVID-19 pandemic," in Saroj Pachauri and Ash Pachauri (eds), Global Perspectives of COVID-19 Pandemic on Health, Education, and Role of Media. Springer Nature, Singapore, pp. 63–83.
DOI
10.1007/978-981-99-1106-6_4
Language
English