Khan Kiran Imtiaz, Jamil Brekhna, Muhammad Muhammad, Mohsin Shamaila, Khan Arsalan Hamid, Javed Muhammad Qasim
Army Medical College, National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
Institute of Health Professions Education and Research, Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, Pakistan.
BMC Health Serv Res. 2025 Jan 31;25(1):190. doi: 10.1186/s12913-025-12347-y.
Women comprise more than two-thirds of the academic medicine faculty and half of the general population in Pakistan, yet their representation in healthcare leadership roles remains disproportionately low.
The study aims to explore the experiences of Pakistani women in healthcare leadership positions to unravel the challenges they face in acquiring and sustaining leadership positions and to identify the factors that help them overcome these challenges.
An exploratory qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews was conducted. Purposive sampling was utilized. Telephonic interviews of ten women in healthcare leadership positions were conducted, recorded, and transcribed. Thematic analysis was performed by manual coding.
A total of 14 subthemes were generated that finally emerged as 5 themes. The challenges of women in healthcare leadership positions included unsupportive work environment, lack of confidence and leadership skills, and struggle to balance family and work. Personal strategies, family support, and women-centric organizational policies were identified as aids to professional advancement.
Most of the challenges faced by women in acquiring and sustaining leadership positions in Pakistan are rooted in a patriarchal culture that assigns conventional roles and expectations to women. Professional competence and strategic acumen along with inclusive work environment and policies can help promote gender equality.
在巴基斯坦，女性占医学学术教职人员的三分之二以上，占总人口的一半，但她们在医疗保健领导岗位上的代表性仍然极低。
本研究旨在探索担任医疗保健领导职务的巴基斯坦女性的经历，以揭示她们在获得和维持领导职位时所面临的挑战，并确定有助于她们克服这些挑战的因素。
进行了一项基于半结构化访谈的探索性定性研究。采用了目的抽样法。对十位担任医疗保健领导职务的女性进行了电话访谈、录音和转录。通过手动编码进行主题分析。
共产生了14个次主题，最终归纳为5个主题。担任医疗保健领导职务的女性所面临的挑战包括工作环境不支持、缺乏信心和领导技能，以及难以平衡家庭和工作。个人策略、家庭支持和以女性为中心的组织政策被确定为职业发展的助力因素。
在巴基斯坦，女性在获得和维持领导职位时面临的大多数挑战都源于父权制文化，这种文化给女性赋予了传统角色和期望。专业能力和战略眼光以及包容的工作环境和政策有助于促进性别平等。
