Presenteeism and Its Associated Factors Among Teachers

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Educational Psychology

Background:

• Teaching is a demanding profession facing challenges like resource scarcity and low salaries in Egypt.
• These factors contribute to adverse health outcomes, including presenteeism, which has not been studied in Egyptian teachers.
• Presenteeism, working while unwell, negatively impacts teacher health and performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the prevalence of presenteeism among Egyptian public school teachers.
• To identify factors associated with presenteeism in this population.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 373 teachers.
• Data collected via interview-administered questionnaires.
• Assessed sociodemographic, occupational, medical characteristics, Stanford Presenteeism Scale, and Job Content Questionnaire.

Main Results:

• Presenteeism prevalence was 70.8% over 12 months.
• 74.6% of present teachers had lower performance scores.
• Predictors included female gender (AOR 4.1), additional jobs (AOR 5.1), musculoskeletal/respiratory issues (AOR 3.1), high job demands (AOR 11.7), and low job control (AOR 11.7).

Conclusions:

• Presenteeism is highly prevalent among Egyptian public school teachers.
• Teachers exhibiting key predictors require targeted interventions and support.
• Addressing factors like job demands and control is crucial for teacher well-being.