Motherhood across the career continuum: A life-course review of occupational, physical, psychological, and institutional challenges among female healthcare workers

Résumé fourni par la source

Motherhood among female healthcare workers involves interconnected occupational, physical, psychological, and institutional challenges from preconception through pregnancy, postpartum return to work, and career progression. This review synthesised evidence on delayed childbearing, infertility, occupational exposures, maternity leave, breastfeeding, work-family conflict, burnout, discrimination, and career advancement. Literature was searched in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Google Scholar for English-language publications from 2000 to July 2026. Fifty-three studies met the inclusion criteria. Evidence identified challenges related to shift work, long working hours, physical demands, occupational hazards, inadequate workplace risk assessment, inconsistent maternity leave, and limited lactation support. Work-family conflict was associated with psychological distress, burnout, and turnover intention, while discrimination and structural barriers contributed to reduced career progression and leadership representation. In India, despite statutory maternity benefits, organisational and cultural barriers persist. The evidence supports systematic pregnancy risk assessment, protected parental leave, workplace lactation facilities and protected time, flexible scheduling, supportive leadership, and equitable promotion policies. Structural workplace reforms are essential to improve wellbeing, retention, career advancement, and gender equity among female healthcare professionals.

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