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ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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Volume 24 |
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Number 4 |
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Published by : PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL PUBLICATIONS |
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ISSN 1681-715X |
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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Volume 24 |
July - September 2008 |
Number 4 |
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Impact of working status on their lives:
A survey of working women at a teaching
hospital in Karachi, Pakistan
Waris Qidwai1, Shahan Waheed2, Salma Ayub3, Syed Iqbal Azam4
ABSTRACT
Objective: To study the impact of working status on the lives of working women.
Methodology: A questionnaire based cross sectional survey was conducted at the Family Practice Center, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, from July to December 2006. The Questionnaire included data on the demographic profile of the patient and questions in line with study objectives. Ethical requirement including the administration of written informed consent and the provision of confidentiality were ensured. SPSS computer software was used for data analysis.
Results: Two hundred working women were interviewed. The mean age was 29.05 years. A majority was married (53.5%) with more than grade XII education (67%). Sixty three (31.5%) women were working due to need and eighty three (41.5%) were finding it difficult to carry out home responsibilities because of it. Extra understanding and support was received from family by 155 (77.5%) and 115 (57.5%) women respectively. One hundred twenty three (61.5%) women felt they did not have enough time for themselves. The status of working women is better than non-working women according to 123 (61.5%) respondents. Financial benefits outweigh other disadvantages according to 105 (52.5%) respondents. Marriage prospects of working women and their children are better than non-working women and their children according to eighty one (40.5%) and eighty (40%) respondents respectively. Confidence in working women is higher than non-working women according to 142 (71%) respondents. Eighty one (40.5%) respondents feel that working women’s financial independence has negative impact on theirs husband’s self esteem.
Conclusions: Working women find it difficult to carryout their home responsibilities. There is need for further studies on how to improve the working conditions and home situation for working women in our society.
KEY WORDS: Working women, Women status, Women health, Women’s role.
Pak J Med Sci July - September 2008 Vol. 24 No. 4 506-511
How to cite this article:
Qidwai W, Waheed S, Ayub S, Azam SI. Impact of working status on their lives: a survey of working women at a teaching hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Pak J Med Sci 2008;24(4):506-11.
1. Dr. Waris Qidwai, FCPS,
Professor and Chairman,
Department of Family Medicine,
2. Shahan Waheed,
Medical student,
3. Salma Ayub,
Medical Student,
2,3: Karachi Medical and Dental College,
Karachi - Pakistan.
4. Mr. Syed, Iqbal Azam, M.Sc (Statistics)
Assistant Professor,
Department of Community Health Sciences,
1,4: Aga Khan University,
Karachi - Pakistan.
Correspondence
Dr. Waris Qidwai,
Professor and Chairman,
Department of Family Medicine,
The Aga Khan University,
Stadium Road, P.O. Box: 3500,
Karachi 74800, Pakistan.
E-Mail: waris.qidwai@aku.edu
* Received for Publication: May 31, 2008
* Accepted: July 14, 2008
INTRODUCTION
Industrialization and rising costs of living is forcing more women to assume working status to earn a living and support their families. As a result in Sri Lanka for example, over 50 percent of the population and the labor force of 6.6 million are women.
1 It is unfortunate that working women are considered second class workers with less reward for same work in comparison to working men.2,3Traditionally, women are expected to look after their family and home needs whereas men are required to earn to support the finances. Since this status is changing very rapidly, there are serious concerns that a working woman has difficulty in meeting home needs.
4,5 The stress of work causes anxiety and depression among working women resulting in difficulties in looking after their home and family.6 It is also reported that health promotion activities are higher among working women in comparison to housewives, showing extra care taken by those who work.7 Despite the stress and lack of time to care for their families, working women are reported to do more for their families than housewives.8Situation is Pakistan is no different with similar concerns for working women. During the 1990s, females officially made up 13% of the labor force in the country. It is reported that women in rural Pakistan work 12-15 hours, doing work at both home and outside in the fields. The situation for urban women is not much different.
9 The impact of such hard work with little appreciation plays a heavy toll on the physical and psychological health of these women. The feeling of guilt among these women from their perceived inability to be as good in meeting the family and home needs in comparison to housewives is important to address.10Based on this background, a need was identified to explore impact of working status on the lives of working women.
METHODOLOGY
A questionnaire based cross sectional survey was conducted at the Family Practice Center, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, from July to December, 2006. One hundred fifty family practice patients are seen daily by twelve family physicians at the center. A Questionnaire was developed by the principal investigator, after extensive literature search including input from colleagues and patients. The questionnaire included data on the demographic profile of the patient including age, marital status, and education. Questions were directed at finding out the impact of working status on the lives of these women. It was administered in both "English" and "Urdu" languages, depending on patient’s comfort ability. Urdu is the national language of Pakistan.
The co-investigators interviewed the patients and filled out the questionnaire. A pilot study was conducted before the start of the administration of the final questionnaire. An agreement was reached between the co-investigators on how to administer the questionnaire in order to ensure uniformity. The questionnaire was administered in the waiting area outside the physician’s office, prior to the consultation. Patient interviewed were those who agreed to participate in the study. The interviews were conducted throughout the study period and no specific timings were followed. Since a descriptive study was planned and the data was not to be subjected to statistical tests, sample size based on statistical calculations was not considered. Ethical requirement including the administration of written informed consent and the provision of confidentiality were ensured.
We interviewed patients based on their availability and convenience. A systematic random selection of study subjects was not under taken. SPSS computer software was used for data management.
RESULTS
Two hundred working women were interviewed. The mean age was 29.05 years. A majority was married (53.5%) with more than grade XII education (67%) and in teaching profession (40.5%) [Table-I]. Sixty three (31.5%) women were working due to need and eighty three (41.5%) were finding it difficult to carry out home responsibilities because of it. Extra understanding and support was received from family by 155 (77.5%) and 115 (57.5%) women respectively.
One hundred twenty three (61.5%) women felt they did not have enough time for themselves. Domestic help was available to eighty nine (44.5%) women and forty three (21.5%) felt harassed at work. Ninety two (46%) women felt guilty because they were unable to give time to their family because of work [Table-II-A]. Confidence among children of working women was higher than non-working women according to 106 (53%) respondents. Children of working women perform better than those of non-working women in practical life according to 104 (52%) women. One hundred twenty nine (64.5%) women felt better working than not working [Table-II-A].
The status of working women is better than non-working women according to 123 (61.5%) respondents. Financial benefits outweigh other disadvantages according to 105 (52.5%) respondents. Sixty (30%) respondents would give up work if they had a choice. One hundred twenty six (63%) respondents agree all women in future will have to work. Marriage prospects of working women and their children are better than non-working women and their children according to 81 (40.5%) & 80(40%) respondents respectively. Confidence in working women is higher than non-working women according to 142 (71%) respondents. Eighty one (40.5%) respondents feel that working women’s financial independence has negative impact on theirs husband’s self esteem. [Table-II-B].
DISCUSSION
A reasonable number of respondents were interviewed to draw some valid conclusions about the impact of working on the lives of working women in our society. The study population had a majority with good educational background and representation from all walks of life including laborers at one extreme to professionals at the other. Since we interviewed a population visiting a teaching hospital for treatment, the results cannot be generalized to the rest of the population. Because an educated population visiting a specialized modern hospital for treatment was interviewed, we expect a far more difficult situation for women working out in the community. Nonetheless, we have valuable information on the subject that can form the basis for further larger studies in the community leading to interventional programs to improve the home and work situation for the working women in the society.
A substantial number sixty three (31.5%) women were working due to need and eighty three (41.5%) were finding it difficult to carry out home responsibilities because of job. This finding testifies to our concern that economic situation is forcing more women to work to support their families, yet they are unable to attend to home and work needs at the same time. We need to find ways to provide better working conditions and remunerations to allow working women to take care of their home responsibilities.
There is extra understanding and support from the family side in majority of cases but more need to be done. Domestic help is available to almost half the respondents but we must realize these are well placed women and the situation is likely to be different in the community with little or no domestic help. A good number of working women are harassed at work, a situation that requires reversal. A substantial number of working women do not find enough time for themselves. Almost half of them feel guilty because they are unable to give time to their families because of working status. These are some of the areas that require improvement to better the situation for working women in our society.
It is again heartening to note that working women feel their children have more confidence and do better in practical life than children of non-working women. There is a need to conduct a study to see whether this difference exists in real life.
It is again heartening to learn that a majority of working women feel better working and believe the status of working women is better in the society than that of non-working women. This testifies to the fact that the working conditions for working women are improving. On the other hand, the finding that 30% respondents would quit if they had a choice proves there is need for improvement. Respondents were divided whether financial benefits outweigh other disadvantages of working or not. It is true that financial compensation is not enough to make up for loss of quality time spent with the family.
It is not surprising that a majority of the respondents feel all future women will have to work to support their families. This finding testifies to the fact that the deteriorating economic situation is forcing more women to work in order to support their families.
We have found that working women feel marriage prospects for them and their children increases because of their working status. A working woman not only has enhanced prospects because of their better financial status but also because of their enhanced opportunities for social interactions.
Confidence in working women is higher than non-working women according to a majority of the respondents. Those who venture out to work already have confidence required for such activity. The challenges faced by working women during work also increase their self confidence and develops their personality. A majority of the respondents feel that working women’s financial independence has negative impact on theirs husband’s self esteem. Further studies are required to study husband’s self esteem and ways and means to enhance it.
CONCLUSIONS
Working women find it difficult to carryout their home responsibilities. A need exists for further studies on how to improve the working conditions and home situation for working women in our society.
Competing interests: Authors have no competing interest in conducting this research or in the publication of this manuscript.
Authors’ contributions:
The research project was conceived, developed and its conduct supervised by the Principal Investigator. The co-investigators collected the data and entered into the computer software programs for analysis. The Principal Investigator took the lead in manuscript writing with input from Co-investigators. The 4th co-author provided statistical support.ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We acknowledge with thanks for their time and information provided by the study participants.
REFERENCES
1. The Dabindu Collective. Problems faced by women working in Sri Lanka’s export processing zones. Asian Labor update. [Cited 2007 November, 28]. Available from: URL: http://www.amrc.org.hk/Arch/3804.html
2. Gaye Cheeqitita. The Working Woman: A "Second Class" Worker. [Cited 2007 November, 28]. Available from: URL. http://www.newyouth.com/archives/interviews/working_woma n__a_second_class .html
3. Swaminathan P. Precarious existence and deteriorating work conditions for women in India: Implications for health. New Solut 2007;17(1-2):57-69.
4. Stuart J. Work and motherhood: preliminary report of a psychoanalytic study. Psychoanal Q 2007;76(2):439-85.
5. Labie D. Family and professional life: The women take the rap. Med Sci (Paris) 2006;22(12):1107-9. Melchior M, Caspi A, Milne BJ, Danese A, Poulton R, Moffitt TE. Work stress precipitates depression and anxiety in young, working women and men. Psychol Med 2007;37(8):1119-29.
6. Helmy FE, Ahmed MH. Health promotion activities among working and non working adult women. J Egypt Public Health Assoc 2002;77(3-4):429-49.
7. Bakoula C, Veltsista A, Prezerakou A, Moustaki M, Fretzayas A, Nicolaidou P. Working mothers breastfeed babies more than housewives. Acta Paediatr 2007;96(4):510-5.
8. Sohema R. The disadvantaged gender. The Dawn Review. Nov29 –Dec 5, 2007;6-11.
9. Elvin-Nowak Y. The meaning of guilt: A phenomenological description of employed mothers’ experiences of guilt. Scand J Psychol 1999;40(1):73-83.
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