GENDER DISPARITY IN AN ACADEMIC HOSPITAL: FEMALE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS PERSPECTIVE

Objective: To determine whether gender-based bias is prevalent in the workplace at a Tertiary Health care system in India

Design: Prospective Google form-based questionnaire qualitative study

Setting: Tertiary Healthcare Institute

Results:A total of 174 female faculties and residents were included in the study. 18% of the participants reported mild gender-based discrimination at the workplace. 8.5% faced sexual harassment. While about a third (33%) faced mental harassment. Only two- a fifth were content with their jobs, whilst 23 % felt they could not get adequate institutional support for their professional development.

Conclusion:Our results cast a light on the role of gender in relation to work opportunities, sexual and mental harassment, and work-life balance. Though women are making progress but remain disadvantaged at a professional level and gender discrepancy still persists.