Women‐centred workplace health promotion interventions: a systematic review

• Published in: International nursing review 2021-03, Vol.68 (1), p.90-98
• Main Authors: Jiménez‐Mérida, M. R., Romero‐Saldaña, M., Molina‐Luque, R., Molina‐Recio, G., Meneses‐Monroy, A., De Diego‐Cordero, R., Vaquero‐Abellán, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Body composition; Breastfeeding & lactation; Cardiovascular diseases; Exercise; Female; Gender differences; health policy; Health Promotion; Healthy Lifestyle; Humans; Intervention; Lifestyles; Male; nursing; Occupational health; Occupational health nurses; occupational health nursing; Physical activity; Professional practice; Public health; public health nursing; R&D; Research & development; Return to work; Sedentary; Systematic review; Women, Working; Womens health; women’s health; Work site programmes; Working women; Workplace; Workplaces
• ISSN: 0020-8132; 1466-7657
• DOI: 10.1111/inr.12637

Aim To analyse workplace health promotion interventions implemented exclusively for the female population. Background The differences in biological, psychological and social characteristics, as well as the type of work carried out by men and women, make it necessary for workplace health promotion to be specific for each group. This study focussed on working women. Introduction Workplace health promotion interventions are centred on increasing the well‐being and health of the employees. Occupational health nurses play an essential role in the implementation of these interventions. Methods A systematic review was carried out using the MEDLINE and Scopus databases, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Results Twelve articles met the inclusion criteria. Two lines of interventions were found: (1) promotion of breastfeeding (16.6%) and (2) promotion of physical activity and other healthy lifestyles (83.4%). The interventions studied underlined promoting breastfeeding, preventing a sedentary lifestyle, improving body composition, reducing cardiovascular risk, relieving premenstrual symptoms, time of breastfeeding after returning to work, and showing favourable results. Discussion The lack of studies on the subject and the medium‐to‐low quality of the articles included in the review have made it difficult to analyse workplace health promotion interventions, making it necessary to continue research in this area. Conclusion There are very few occupational health promotion interventions targeting women (1.9%), and the majority of them focus on promoting physical activity. It is worrying that specific aspects of women's health are poorly addressed. Implications for nursing practice and health policy The work of the occupational nurse essentially is to guarantee the health of women in the workplace, being the key figure in the research and development of gender‐related policies in the field of public health.