Experiences of India's community health workers and women during the COVID-19 pandemic.
SND-ID: 2023-214.
Access to data via
Citation
Creator/Principal investigator(s)
Falak Jalali - University of Iowa, Geographical and Sustainability Sciences
Carly Nichols - University of Iowa, Geographical and Sustainability Sciences
Harry Fischer
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Urban and Rural Development
Research principal
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
- Department of Urban and Rural Development
Principal's reference number
SLU.sol.2023.IÄ-21
Description
The data comprises open ended interviews conducted with rural health care workers (known as ASHAs) and women in the Sirmaur District of Himachal Pradesh, India. The data documents ASHAs' experiences acting as frontline healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, including their perceptions of risks, challenges, and professional responsibilities. The data also documents rural women's experiences of managing their households, caring for children, and navigating the challenges that they faced during this highly uncertain time. Respondents were identified through snowball sampling, and all interviews were conducted through telephone conversations due to pandemic-related travel restrictions.
Methods and questionnaires
Our data collection was guided by two sets of questions:
- The “General” Covid-19 questionnaire includes questions about household labor roles, livelihoods, care for children, and emotional experiences navigating the COVID-19 Pandemic.
- The “Community health worker” (ASHA) questionnaire includes questions for community health care workers, their roles and responsibilities, an
Methods and questionnaires
Our data collection was guided by two sets of questions:
- The “General” Covid-19 questionnaire includes questions about household labor roles, livelihoods, care for children, and emotional experiences navigating the COVID-19 Pandemic.
- The “Community health worker” (ASHA) questionnaire includes questions for community health care workers, their roles and responsibilities, and experiences as frontline healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Interviews:
All interviews were conducted over the phone due to pandemic-related travel restrictions. The questionnaires identified main topics for discussion, however the interviews were semi-structured. We allowed the respondent to share their thoughts and experiences of their own choosing and to direct the conversation where they wanted to take it. We conducted additional follow-up interviews where the respondents agreed to do so.
Sampling:
Respondents were contacted through snowball sampling. Initial contacts were made through an NGO in the Sirmaur District as well as through field staff employed on the research project, "Institutional Networks and Self-Organized Adaptation". After making initial contact with several respondents, they were able to suggest others to speak with from the area. The sample is thus non-random. We spoke with whomever we were able to get in contact with and who was willing to spend time speaking with us over the phone. Show less..
Data contains personal data
Yes
Sensitive personal data
Yes
Type of personal data
Data contains information about community health workers and women's personal experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic. All data has been pseudonymised.
Data contain other protected information
Yes: Data contains highly personal accounts of distress during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as socio-economic, caste, and ethnic background of some respondents.
Language
Unit of analysis
Population
The population contains community health workers and women in the Sirmaur District of Himachal Pradesh, India
Time Method
Sampling procedure
Non-probability: Availability
Time period(s) investigated
2020-05-01 – 2020-12-01
Number of individuals/objects
45
Data format / data structure
Geographic spread
Geographic location: India
Geographic description: Respondents are from the Sirmaur District, Himachal Pradesh, India
Responsible department/unit
Department of Urban and Rural Development
Contributor(s)
Carly Nichols - University of Iowa
Falak Jalali - University of Iowa
Ethics Review
Swedish Ethical Review Authority - Ref. 2020-00944
Research area
Human geography (Standard för svensk indelning av forskningsämnen 2011)
Social sciences interdisciplinary (Standard för svensk indelning av forskningsämnen 2011)
Specific social services: use and availability (CESSDA Topic Classification)
General health and well-being (CESSDA Topic Classification)
Health care services and policies (CESSDA Topic Classification)
Gender and gender roles (CESSDA Topic Classification)
Nichols, Carly, Falak Jalali, and Harry Fischer. 2022. “Corona warriors”? Experiences of India's community health workers (ASHAs) in India's COVID-19 response. Political Geography 99: 102770.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polgeo.2022.102770
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