Healthcare Professionals' Attitudes about Parturients Living with Obesity and Overweight: A Quantitative Study

Introduction: The prevalence of obesity and overweight has risen to an epidemic level globally, posing significant challenges to healthcare systems. Studies revealed that individuals with obesity and overweight frequently face negative societal perceptions and are often blamed for their weight. Healthcare personnel are not exempt from biases associated with obesity, which can affect their interaction with patients. As frontline providers of care, healthcare professionals play a critical role in managing obesity and related health conditions. However, their attitudes toward individuals with obesity and overweight can influence the quality of care provided, patient satisfaction, and health outcomes. The current study assesses healthcare professionals' attitudes about parturients living with overweight and obesity in northern Jordan, as well as the sociodemographic factors associated with their attitudes.

Using a cross-sectional, descriptive design, this study recruited a convenience sample consisting of 62 obstetricians, 30 registered nurses, and 95 certified midwives from labor units. Participants completed a questionnaire concerning their sociodemographic characteristics, and Arabic versions of the Fat Phobia Scale (FPS) and Nurses' Attitudes toward Obesity and Obese Patients Scale (NATOOPS).

The overall mean scores of the sample on both scales indicated negative attitudes. Most of the sample was female, married, and aged 29 years. Midwives held more positive attitudes than did obstetricians and nurses. Most participants perceived parturients living with overweight and obesity as overate people, shapeless, slow, and unattractive. Younger participants with long years of experience held less negative attitudes than the rest of the sample. The ANOVA test results showed significant differences in attitudes toward parturients living with overweight and obesity based on age and educational level. Participants with PHD in medicine and a BS in midwifery held positive attitudes. Post hoc Tukey HSD test indicated that the mean (FPS) of the PhD holders and the bachelor's midwifery holders was significantly lower than that of the diploma in midwifery holders (p = 0.012 and p < 0.001, respectively).

It is necessary to treat maternal obesity more adequately in both beginning education courses and continuing professional education seminars for working professionals.