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Female sickness absenteeism in Poland
1Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Lodz, Poland.
Summary
Female sickness absence in Poland is a growing public health concern. Respiratory and gynecological issues, alongside chronic conditions, are primary drivers, impacting workforce participation.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Occupational Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Working activity periods are decreasing in Poland for both genders.
- Women comprise 48% of the national economy workforce, making female absenteeism a significant issue.
- Medical certificates are the primary data source for analyzing sickness absence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the trends and causes of female sickness absence in Poland.
- To identify key health issues contributing to lost work time among female employees.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of a 15% random sample of all sickness certificates in Poland.
- Monitoring the lost time rate as the primary parameter for sickness absence.
- Examining causes of absence by disease category and age group.
Main Results:
- In 1994, female sickness absence was 25.1 days per employee.
- Top causes included respiratory diseases (18%) and gynecological/pregnancy issues (17%).
- Musculoskeletal diseases (15%), circulatory (15%), and nervous system (11%) diseases were significant chronic contributors.
Conclusions:
- Respiratory and gynecological conditions are major causes of female sickness absence, particularly in younger age groups.
- Chronic diseases like musculoskeletal and circulatory issues substantially increase sickness absence rates.
- Gynecological and musculoskeletal diseases showed significant annual increases in absence rates between 1990-1994.