Case report, 2008
Can a workplace support system help women with menstrual problems at work?
A Japanese company set up a support system for women's health, and after it started, fewer women left their jobs early because of menstrual disorders, miscarriage, or menopause problems. This is one company's experience, not a controlled study, so it cannot prove the system alone caused the change.
What they did
An occupational health nurse at a Japanese company worked with an outside gynecologist as adviser to build a health support system for female employees, covering menstrual disorders, pregnancy health, and menopause problems. It was built with input from the personnel department, a harassment committee, and health and safety staff, then tested by reviewing case studies.
What they found
After the system was put in place, the number of female employees who chose early retirement because of menstrual disorders, miscarriage, or menopause problems went down. Reviewing the case studies also helped make clear who should handle different kinds of care.
What it means for you
This suggests that bringing in medical specialists and clear support roles at work may help women stay in their jobs while dealing with menstrual or reproductive health problems. But this comes from a single company with no comparison group, so it only shows what happened in one workplace, not proof this exact approach works everywhere.
About the study
- Original title
- Development and evaluation of a women's health support system at a Japanese company
- Authors
- Ariyoshi H
- Journal
- AAOHN journal : official journal of the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses
- Year
- 2008
- Study design
- Case report
- What was tested
- A workplace women's health support system, including an outside gynecologist as adviser and cooperation between company departments.
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.3928/08910162-20080701-03
Topics
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