Krishnan Sneha
Jindal School of Environment and Sustainability, OP Jindal Global University, Haryana, India.
Int J Disaster Risk Reduct. 2022 Jun 1;75:102962. doi: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.102962. Epub 2022 Apr 16.
Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction emphasises building local capacities for disaster risk management. This article asks: What role did female frontline health workers (FFHWs) play in preparing, responding and managing health emergencies in India and how did information and communications technology (ICT) platforms hinder or facilitate their capacities?
FFHWs' experiences in providing subnational and local health response to the COVID-19 pandemic in six states in India - Odisha, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Kerala and Maharashtra - was collected using semi-structured interviews. Data were thematically analysed, and studied within the government policies and guidelines to tackle the emerging concerns in COVID-19.
FFHWs were involved in planning, responding and managing COVID-19 cases, providing awareness and undertaking surveillance within their regions. Moreover they were also responsible to continue with essential health and nutrition service delivery to pregnant women and young infants. They relied on various information and communications technology (ICT) platforms in managing their tasks despite facing several challenges. Besides receiving training from hospitals and health officials, FFHWs received information on COVID-19 and prevention through different channels and modes: majority of them reported TV channels, news coverage, and videos sent on Whatsapp groups.
There are underlying gender inequalities within the health system whereby limited resources and opportunities are available for the FFHWs, which extends to their use of ICT platforms in health emergencies. Using ICT in an equitable and just manner provides an opportunity to support local action for health resilience swiftly and promptly by building capacities and increasing representation of the frontline workers. This understanding can be further grounded around issues of equity, participation, representation in a gender-responsive health system.
《仙台减少灾害风险框架》强调建设地方灾害风险管理能力。本文提出以下问题：印度女性一线卫生工作者在卫生突发事件的防范、应对和管理中发挥了什么作用？信息通信技术平台如何阻碍或促进了她们的能力？
通过半结构化访谈收集了印度六个邦（奥里萨邦、比哈尔邦、中央邦、北阿坎德邦、喀拉拉邦和马哈拉施特拉邦）女性一线卫生工作者在应对新冠疫情时提供次国家级和地方卫生应对措施的经验。对数据进行了主题分析，并结合政府应对新冠疫情新出现问题的政策和指导方针进行研究。
女性一线卫生工作者参与了新冠病例的规划、应对和管理，在其所在地区开展宣传并进行监测。此外，她们还负责继续为孕妇和幼儿提供基本的卫生和营养服务。尽管面临诸多挑战，但她们在管理任务时依赖各种信息通信技术平台。除了接受医院和卫生官员的培训外，女性一线卫生工作者还通过不同渠道和方式获得了有关新冠疫情及预防的信息：她们中的大多数人报告称通过电视频道、新闻报道以及WhatsApp群组发送的视频获取信息。
卫生系统中存在潜在的性别不平等现象，女性一线卫生工作者可获得的资源和机会有限，这也延伸到她们在卫生突发事件中对信息通信技术平台的使用。以公平公正的方式使用信息通信技术，通过建设能力和增加一线工作者的代表性，为迅速及时地支持地方卫生恢复力行动提供了机会。这种认识可以进一步基于性别平等的卫生系统中的公平、参与和代表性等问题。
