Perspectives of Female Physicians Who Lead in the Public Health Sector in India – A Qualitative Study
Introduction: This qualitative, research studies female physicians in leadership roles to identify reasons for their underrepresentation. Materials and Methods: Fourteen female physicians in leadership positions in India’s federal and state ministries of health were purposively sampled and interview...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2024-09-01
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| Series: | Preventive Medicine: Research & Reviews |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/PMRR.PMRR_54_24 |
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| Summary: | Introduction:
This qualitative, research studies female physicians in leadership roles to identify reasons for their underrepresentation.
Materials and Methods:
Fourteen female physicians in leadership positions in India’s federal and state ministries of health were purposively sampled and interviewed online.
Results:
Female physician face cultural, organisational and structural barriers. Familial expectations and imbibed, internalised responsibility to prioritise family hold them back. The rigid bureaucracy makes their workplaces non-inclusive. Microaggressions and implicit gender bias abound. A formalised training system and a performance-based reward system are absent. The enabling factors are family support, incidental learning, being emotionally intelligent and passion for their work.
Conclusions:
Action at the societal, medical education and public health system structural level can motivate female physicians to assume for leadership positions. |
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| ISSN: | 2950-5828 2950-5836 |