Gender-Related Issues Among Women Raising Children Based on Before and After Pandemic Comparisons: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Despite being embraced worldwide, gender equality has not been achieved in child care activities. Pandemics can negatively affect the health of women engaged in child-rearing. We surveyed women raising children before and after the pandemic. The purpose of this study was to identify the impacts on stress and fatigue levels of women through a comparison of surveys before and after the pandemic and obtain basic materials required for women to play an active role in society and to achieve gender equality. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, women (n=150) with children aged 0–3 years were surveyed at a child-rearing support facility before and after the pandemic to determine their basic attributes, and identify situations where they experienced anger and fatigue during child-rearing. Results: The number of women who worked or took childcare leave increased significantly after pandemic (p=0.025). There were no significant differences in stress and fatiguebefore and after the pandemic.A decreased number of women become angry when their children cluttered up the house (p=0.031) or gave them a difficult time going home (p=0.008) after pandemic. Conclusions: Women’s stress and fatigue did not differ during the pandemic, as more women did not get angry about their children after the pandemic. Women raising children had racks of sleep and fatigue accumulation regardless of the pandemic. Rapidly solving the challenges faced by women in raising children will achieve gender equality.