Orawan Saisawat. Legal enforcement for health protection of working pregnant nurse in government hospitals . Master's Degree(Medical and Public Health Law Administration). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2004.
Legal enforcement for health protection of working pregnant nurse in government hospitals
Abstract:
This descriptive research used both quantitative and qualitative methods. The
objectives of the study were to study international laws, laws of other countries, and
laws of Thailand relating to pregnant women,s protection and to study working
conditions of pregnant nurses working at government hospitals. Questionnaires were
distributed to 210 nurses who had been pregnant more than once from 1998 to 2003 and
who had worked at one of five particular public hospitals under the Ministry of Public
Health. Apart from these samples, this paper also studied opinions from nursing
management on health protection laws for pregnant nurses working at government
hospitals. Data were quantitatively analyzed by using frequency and percentage.
From the study, it was found that 77.6 and 90.4% of all pregnant nurses
working at government hospitals had to work on shift until, respectively, the eighth and
ninth month of pregnancy when they would be allowed to work only morning shift.
They had to use strength for working such as carrying patients, pushing patient beds etc.
Approximately, 55 % had to work overtime; 23% had contact with chemicals, for
example chemotherapy, and 8% had contact with anesthetics. From studying laws of
other countries, it was found that most of them provide protection for pregnant women
by allowing maternity leave, breaks for breast-feeding, hazardous jobs restriction, and
employment protection. In Thailand, the Labor Protection Act, B.E. 2541 also provides
articles relating to pregnant labor. However, those who work for government sectors
are not protected by this Act. Moreover, the rules and regulations of Civil Servants do
not have articles concerning jobs which might cause hazard to health and pregnancy.
For these reasons, pregnant nurses working at public hospitals are unequally protected
compared to those who work at private hospitals. In the interviews with obstetricians,
nursing executives, labor protection officials of the Ministry of Labor and lawyers, all of
the interviewees agreed that legal measures for health protection for pregnant nurses
should be pushed forward, at least, at the same level as those of the Labor Protection
Act, B.E. 2541.
Results suggest that legal measures for health protection for pregnant nurses
working at public hospitals should be pushed forward.