Introduction: Pregnancy is a physiological state and not a sickness on its own. This means that a lot of pregnant women work until late in their pregnancy. Even though physiological changes during pregnancy are not a reason for taking sick leave, pregnancy is the second most common reason for missed workdays for women. Aim: The aim of this diploma thesis is to present the position of pregnant women in the workplace and define pregnancy as a reason for taking sick leave. In addition to this, the wish is to discover the frequency and length of sick leave during pregnancy based on diagnoses, business activities, and age groups. Work methods: The first part is based on a descriptive method with a systematic overview of sources from scientific magazines, books, and databases. The empirical part consists of a statistical analysis of sick leave data for pregnancy, birth and post-birth periods between 2004 and 2013. Sick leave markers included are: the percentage of sick leaves, the frequency index, the morbidity index, and severity based on business activities and age groups. The statistical analysis of the data showed the most common diagnoses in pregnancy that can be a reason for sick leave. Results: The percentage of sick leave in pregnancy, during birth and in the post-birth period has lowered by 0.15% from 2004 to 2013 and the length of sick leave has also decreased (18.39 days on average). The most common reason for sick leave is the possibility of a miscarriage, that manifests itself as bleeding. Among the business activities based on sick leave markers, the most common turned out to be social security with accommodation (nursery homes, care facilities for the mentally disabled, shelters, safe houses, etc.). The age group between 20 and 44 years took the first place for every marker by far among pregnant women on sick leave. Discussion and conclusion: Physiological changes and symptoms of pregnancy cannot be a reason for sick leave. A moderate, regular, and modified physical activity is very important for the health of a pregnant woman and her foetus and a great preparation for birth. The duty of every employer is to consider the legislation and assure the safety of pregnant women in the workplace. The doctor’s and midwife’s roles are very important for preventive measures. Even though this topic is becoming more relevant, it is not discussed enough. Midwives should be able to use their knowledge and be actively included in the process of reducing the frequency of sick leave among pregnant women.
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