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Night Shift Work and Poor Sleep Quality Among Female Workers in Southern Brazil: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Study
Janaína Cristina Da Silva1, Maria Teresa Anselmo Olinto2,3, Anderson Garcez2
1Post-Graduate Program in Collective Health, University of Vale Do Rio Dos Sinos, Unisinos, São Leopoldo, RS, Brazil.
Nature and Science of Sleep
|January 7, 2026
Summary
Night shift work significantly increases poor sleep quality in female factory workers, with prevalence rising over time. Interventions are needed to improve sleep hygiene and optimize shift schedules for this vulnerable group.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Sleep Medicine
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Night shift work is a known health risk, especially for women.
- Sociocultural and occupational factors can worsen sleep quality for female shift workers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between night shift work and poor sleep quality in female factory workers.
- To assess changes in this association over a five-year period.
Main Methods:
- A repeated cross-sectional study of female factory workers in Brazil (2017 and 2022).
- Poor sleep quality defined by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score > 5.
- Prevalence ratios (PR) calculated using Poisson regression with robust variance.
Main Results:
- Prevalence of poor sleep quality increased from 58.3% in 2017 to 67.7% in 2022.
- Night shift work was linked to a 30% higher prevalence of poor sleep quality in 2017 (PR=1.30).
- Night shift work was linked to a 25% higher prevalence of poor sleep quality in 2022 (PR=1.25).
Conclusions:
- Poor sleep quality is highly prevalent and associated with night shift work among female workers.
- A significant increase in poor sleep quality was observed over the study period.
- Targeted interventions for sleep hygiene and shift schedule optimization are recommended.
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