A master’s thesis titled “The Impact of the Work Environment on Maternal Health During Pregnancy,” authored by researcher Saja Ihsan Hussein and supervised by Dr. Wissam Mash’an Matlab, was defended at the College of Nursing at the University of Baghdad in the Continuing Education Hall.
The thesis aimed to study the relationship between physical workplace factors (such as noise, workload, and a comfortable work environment) and maternal health during pregnancy, as well as to determine the relationship between psychological and social factors in the workplace (such as stress, support from colleagues, and job satisfaction) and maternal health status, in addition to identifying the most common health problems reported by pregnant women and resulting from the nature of their work environment.
The thesis findings concluded that the work environment has a significant and multidimensional impact on the health of pregnant women, as physical factors in the workplace—including noise, vibration, prolonged standing, and a poor ergonomic environment—were closely associated with negative health outcomes, including increased pain intensity and reduced physical capacity, Psychosocial factors such as work-related stress, moderate social exclusion, and weak workplace support were also found to be associated with higher levels of anxiety, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and reduced social engagement. The researcher received a grade of “Very Good” for her dissertation.
The study recommended the development and implementation of strict policies to ensure safe and comfortable working conditions for women during pregnancy, allow for flexible working hours, and reduce the burdens and workplace pressures placed on them, in addition to providing appropriate personal protective equipment and ensuring its use when necessary within organizations.
This scholarly work reinforces the college’s firm commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Goal 3 on (Good Health and Well-being) and Goal 5 on (Gender Equality), by highlighting preventive health care for working mothers and protecting their environmental and physical rights, thereby ensuring their safety and that of their fetuses and promoting their psychological and professional stability in society.
