Assessing the post-pandemic socioeconomic and health impacts on daily wage and private sector workers in India: a cross-sectional analysis

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic, a global health and socioeconomic crisis, has severely impacted various demographics, with daily wage and private sector workers in India among the hardest hit. Lockdown measures, aimed at curbing the virus's spread, resulted in widespread job losses, financial instability, educational challenges, and mental health issues, leading to a critical examination of the post-pandemic effects on these vulnerable populations. This study aims to assess the socioeconomic and psychological impacts of COVID-19 on daily wage and private sector workers. Specifically, it examines employment and income loss, access to basic needs, educational disruptions, lifestyle changes, and mental health effects post-lockdown. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 100 participants selected through simple random sampling. Data collection spanned from October to December 2023, utilizing a structured questionnaire to capture sociodemographic, economic, lifestyle, and psychological information. The depression, anxiety and stress scale-21 items (DASS-21) scale was employed to measure depression, anxiety, and stress levels among respondents. Results: Results show that 42% of participants experienced job losses, predominantly among daily wage workers, with many respondents also reporting decreased financial stability. Educational impacts were notable, with limited access to digital learning tools exacerbating the digital divide. Significant lifestyle changes included shifts towards healthier habits and increased compulsive behaviours, such as handwashing. Mental health assessments indicated that 30% of participants had mild depression, while moderate levels of stress and anxiety were common. Conclusions: The findings highlight the pandemic's lasting socioeconomic and mental health toll on daily wage and private sector workers in India. Immediate policy interventions are needed to strengthen social support systems, ensure access to mental health care, and facilitate economic recovery for these communities.