Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on C-section among infected Indian women: evidence from qualitative analysis

Rushikesh Khadse, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)

The first case of novel coronavirus disease was identified in Wuhan city of China on December 2019. Covid-19 had a serious psychological impact on pregnant women, it reflects more than half of women reported higher anxiety than normal level. This study aims to explore the effect of Covid-19 on the health among women undergoing C-section delivery. Qualitative data was collected from women who were infected with Covid-19 and undergone C-section delivery in Amravati district of Maharashtra during March 2020 to February 2022. The selection criteria of women, the purposive sampling method was used to select the respondent. Three central themes psychological status of women, expenditure on C-section delivery during Covid-19 and health amenities emerged to explain the effect of Covid-19 on delivery among pregnant women. Pregnant women tested positive for Covid-19 preferred to opt C-section delivery and experienced anxiety, loneliness and depressed during the recovery period.

Keywords: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Population Policies, Population and Development, Qualitative data/methods/approaches

See paper.