Advances in Nursing & Midwifery

Abstract

Background

Mood fluctuations and pregnant women’s needs at workplace lead to such different problems as fatigue. In fact, female workforce has been tripled over recent decades. However, current antepartum care particularly for employed women does not cover the issue of fatigue and its management.

Purpose

This longitudinal study was conducted to determine the severity of fatigue and its related factors in women referring to maternal clinics affiliated to Isfahan Medical University.

Methods

Women had domestic income or were employed outside home. Data were gathered by a questionnaire in two parts including demographic and obstetric questions in the first part completed by researchers at first visit. If they fulfilled including criteria, the second part regarding fatigue was given to the mothers to complete it weekly from the 32^nd week of pregnancy to delivery on a specific day. Different statistical tests were used for data analysis.

Results

Of 70 mothers, 67.6% had moderate and severe fatigue, 12.8% had more than 1 job and, from the mothers working outside, 34.8% had shifts. 90% of the subjects stood more than 3 hours and 58.2% of them stated that they had continued their work in spite of having fatigue. 93% of them faced with fatigue resources, 10% experienced premature delivery (gestational age less than 37^th week) and 18.5% delivered low-birth-weight (less than 2500gr) newborns.

Conclusion

Two-third of employed mothers experienced moderate to severe fatigue, which may influence on pregnancy outcomes. This can be reduced by some interventions such as rest intervals and instruction of fatigue management methods like relaxation at work.

Keywords: Fatigue, Employed women, Pregnancy.