Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 60 Biopolis Street, Genome, Singapore, 138672, Republic of Singapore.
BMC Womens Health. 2024 Jul 25;24(1):422. doi: 10.1186/s12905-024-03255-0.
To examine the challenges faced by Asian working mothers with a focus on re-entry to the workplace. In addition, we highlight potential supports that retain women in the workforce.
A systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) recommendations and registered with PROSPERO database (CRD42022341130).
Three independent reviewers were involved in the study selection to screen the search results sequentially by title, abstract, and full text using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The methodological quality of each article was assessed via the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool.
We analysed a total of 36 studies conducted across different regions: 30 from the East and 6 from Southeast Asia. Among these studies, 20 were quantitative in nature, 15 were qualitative, and one intervention. The 36 studies cover five themes: 1) policies, 2) external support sources, 3) external pressure, 4) breastfeeding and 5) health status. Within each theme the same factor can have a positive or negative impact on the mother depending on her having a pro-career or pro-family mindset. Companies can take various initiatives to support working mothers, such as providing facilities for expressing breast milk at the workplace, educating staff to promote breastfeeding and accommodate childcare needs, and extending maternity leaves. However, there is a lack of literature that directly addresses the barriers and concrete support available to working mothers in Asia, beyond the scope of breastfeeding.
Our findings underscore several obstacles that can impede a woman's seamless return to work. Pro-family and pro-career mothers have differing needs that cannot be addressed at the same time. There is a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding effective strategies or interventions that can support a positive reintegration into the workforce.
探讨亚洲职业母亲所面临的挑战，重点关注重返职场问题。此外，我们还强调了一些潜在的支持措施，以确保女性继续留在劳动力市场。
根据系统评价和荟萃分析的首选报告项目（PRISMA）建议进行系统评价，并在 PROSPERO 数据库（CRD42022341130）中进行了注册。
由 3 名独立评审员参与研究选择，通过标题、摘要和全文，按照预先设定的纳入和排除标准，依次对搜索结果进行筛选。使用关键评估技能计划（CASP）工具评估每篇文章的方法学质量。
我们分析了来自不同地区的 36 项研究：30 项来自东亚，6 项来自东南亚。这些研究中，20 项为定量研究，15 项为定性研究，1 项为干预研究。36 项研究涵盖了五个主题：1）政策；2）外部支持来源；3）外部压力；4）母乳喂养；5）健康状况。在每个主题中，同样的因素可能对母亲产生积极或消极的影响，具体取决于她是支持职业发展还是支持家庭。公司可以采取各种举措来支持职业母亲，例如在工作场所提供挤奶设施、培训员工以促进母乳喂养和照顾儿童需求，以及延长产假。然而，目前缺乏直接针对亚洲职业母亲面临的障碍和具体支持措施的文献，超出了母乳喂养的范围。
我们的研究结果强调了一些可能阻碍女性顺利重返工作岗位的障碍。支持家庭和支持职业发展的母亲有不同的需求，无法同时得到满足。对于支持积极重返劳动力市场的有效策略或干预措施，缺乏全面的理解。
