Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women in the workplace in the Middle East and North Africa: A scoping review protocol

Malak Ghezzawi, Sasha Fahme, Reem Al Sabbagh, Salpy Naalbandian, Jocelyn DeJong and Study Group Womena

PLOS ONE, 2025, vol. 20, issue 2, 1-9

Abstract: Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the livelihoods of working men and women worldwide. The pandemic exacerbated already existing inequities, especially in sectors where women predominate, such as the healthcare, education, and hospitality sectors. Women in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, a world outlier for low female labor force participation despite high female education levels, may have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on women’s livelihoods and health is critical to support and retain women in the labor force during external health shocks. However, until now there has been relatively little research on this topic in MENA. Therefore, this scoping review aims to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health and wellbeing of women workers in low-and-middle-income countries in the MENA region. Methods: The outcome of interest is COVID-19 related occupational health (COVID-19 infection related to workplace exposures and pandemic-related occupational stressors) and the impact on mental and physical health among women workers in LMIC in MENA. Academic databases, including APA PsycINFO, Arab World Research Source: Al-Masdar, Global Health, MEDLINE, Scopus and Web of Science Core Collection will be searched. The study selection process will involve two independent reviewers and data extraction will involve summarizing key information from the included studies using a predefined charting table. The evidence will be analyzed descriptively, providing a comprehensive overview of the identified themes and patterns. Discussion: It is anticipated that this review will facilitate a deeper understanding of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on working women in the MENA region. The findings may inform data-driven policies and targeted interventions that not only attract and retain women in the workforce but also enhance their health and well-being.

Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pone00:0312037

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0312037

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