REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH STATUS OF WOMEN AND YOUTH DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

The Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic has devastating social and economic consequences around the world. However, infection rates and deaths alone do not provide an accurate picture of the deep gender impact of the pandemic. While available evidence suggests higher mortality rates associated with Covid-19, men, women and girls bear a disproportionately heavy burden of the more complex impact of the pandemic and emergency response by states. Women and girls are not a homogeneous group. They face multiple forms of discrimination. While everyone is vulnerable to the coronavirus, the response to the pandemic is far from affecting people equally. The most marginalized segments of the population suffer the most from glaring gender disparities. Women and girls are at increased risk of domestic violence, lack adequate access to basic health services (both before and during a pandemic), are punished for non-compliance with anti-epidemic measures, suffer from economic insecurity and forced unpaid and unrewarding domestic work.