Theme

Sub-theme

Quotes

Awareness and training

Knowledge about COVID-19

It is a droplet infection and can spread through the air

Training

On the first day, they explained to us what to do and how to conduct the COVID survey

Exposure and duration

Exposure

If there is a positive case, special attention is given to that house. We enter, spray, bleach, and put a tick mark on the door

Duration

Normally for doing an Antenatal care survey we used to start by 9:00 am but for COVID duty we started by 7:00 am

Safety measures

Personal protective equipment

Within few minutes of wearing disposable masks, I feel a pungent smell. It is difficult to even drink water

Extra-precautions

When we went to survey a high-risk area, we maintained more social distance

Occupational burnout

Overburdened

Our primary job is to register ten pregnant women in a month, we are not able to do that. All the time we are on COVID duty, we have no time to do our regular work

Shortage of workers

The burden was huge due to lack of manpower, but they co-operated and dedicated themselves completely

Social stigma

Rejection

Some people even shut their doors, saying that we are spreading it

Psychological violence

Emotional trauma

The public is asking us whether we get paid separately for collecting samples. I have been in this service for 32 years and have been very honest without taking any bribes, but when they say this, I feel demotivated and sad

Verbal abuse

We work all day and get told off by people, it is bad. We control our emotions as this is part of our job

Facilitating factors

Support from higher-ups

I got support from my supervisors in the workplace, from my parents at home

Motivation

When I get up in the morning and wear my uniform, I forget about all my problems. I do not care about anything and do my work quickly

Protection for women staff

I am always accompanied by a senior Urban Health Nurse. This allocation was followed for all the women on COVID field duties.