WORK-LIFE BALANCE: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY AMONG FEMALE DENTISTS OF KARACHI

Abstract

Objective: Female dentists today face multi-dimensional challenges in maintaining the work-life balance. Working stress and family issues may lead to decreased productivity at work and ultimately effect quality of life. There is limited information available on the workplace practice and work family balance and need to focus on the elements that define the integration and balance at work. The study aimed to assess the work-life satisfaction level among female dentists and to propose work-life integration model for female dentists.

Methodology: It was cross-sectional observation study conducted at four dental hospitals of Karachi. The non-probability consecutive sampling technique was used. 236 participants were interviewed on semi structured questionnaire. Data demographics, job satisfaction and suggestion of work-life integration was recorded during October 2019 –December 2019.SPSS 21.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Descriptive statistics were used for data distribution among study variables. For association of demographics with job satisfaction, Chi Square test was used.

Result: Response rate was n=224 (95%). Mean age was 26.7±3.1. Among the respondents 84 (37.5%) were married and68 (80.9%) were living in joint family system. 52% reported that it is sometimes that they worry about work when actually not at work and only 11% never worry about their work. 48% females reported that they were balancing work life perfectly whereas 3.7% did not. 38% female were not sure about their work life balance. 11% thought their family members are in better position to answer about their work life balance. 40% reported that they find leisure time only on weekends whereas 34% find only twice a month. Only 25% of the female dentists recorded affirmatively for husbands’ emotional support. Unmarried respondents are found to be more satisfied than married respondents with p value 0.008.

Conclusion: Integration of work-home-leisure at workplace would increase satisfaction at job and home. Subsequently, helps in developing career paths for females in dentistry. Policy level dialogues are recommended based on our proposed framework for the work-life integration at the dental hospitals.