Estimating Midwifery Staffing Needs in a Maternity Ward Using the Workload Indicators of Staffing Need (WISN) Method
Bensekhria Nardjesse
Assistant Professor in occupational Medecine
Faculty of Medecine
University of Batna 2
Fesdis, Batna, Algeria
n.bensekhria@univ-Batna2.dz
Benhassine Wissal
Professor in occupational Medecine
Faculty of Medecine
University of Batna 2
Fesdis, Batna, Algeria
w.benhasine@univ-batna2.dz
Chenouf Nassira
Specialist in Occupational Medicine
University Hospital of Batna
Abstract
Introduction: Achieving optimal quality and efficiency in the global health system requires balancing the workload of healthcare providers, particularly in resource-limited settings. Midwives, as essential healthcare professionals, play a significant role in improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes. Objective: This study aimed to estimate the required number of midwives and evaluate their workload pressures in a maternity ward using the WISN Method. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 2021 among midwives in five departments of a specialized hospital. Results: Midwives at Batna Maternity Hospital accounted for 29.24% of the paramedical staff and 15.36% of the total workforce. The annual available working hours for midwives were 1367.53 ± 172.01 hours. In the delivery room, they allocated almost 81% of their available working time to basic activities, while the remaining time was dedicated to additional, categorical, or individual activities. The required number of midwives for these activities exceeded the available staff in four out of five units, resulting in a WISN ratio of 0.9 and a shortage of three midwives. The WISN ratio ranged from 0.83 to 1.12, indicating that these units had 83% to 112% of the necessary midwives, with the lowest ratio observed in the delivery room and the high-risk pregnancy service, facing the highest workload pressure. Conclusion: Workload pressures vary among different healthcare services, even within the same staff category. This highlights the importance of considering work processes, activity standards, and workload pressure when determining staffing needs.
Keywords
WISN, Staffing Levels, workload, activity, midwife.
Biography
Dr. Bensekhria Nardjesse is a medical doctor with a doctoral degree in medicine. Since 2015, she has held the position of Assistant Professor in Occupational Medicine. She is currently pursuing her doctoral research in the field of objective assessment of physical workload among healthcare providers. Her research focuses on utilizing posture and heart rate measurements, as well as implementing the World Health Organization's Workload Indicators of Staffing Need (WISN) method. She is responsible for the exploratory unit within the Occupational Medicine Department at CHU Batna. Additionally, she is actively involved in teaching and research activities at the Faculty of Medicine in Batna. Currently, she is a member of a research project investigating the organization of work in emergency services and its effects on employee well-being and patient safety.
Chenouf Nassira obtained her Doctor of Medicine degree in 2012. She then pursued residency training in Occupational Medicine from 2013 to 2018, graduating with a Specialization Diploma in Occupational Medicine. Since November 2018, Dr. CHENOUF Nassira has been working as an Occupational Health Physician in the Occupational Medicine Department of the University Hospital where she completed her residency. In addition to her clinical work, Dr.CHENOUF Nassira is actively involved in research on work-related illnesses and occupational risk prevention. She regularly presents at national and international scientific conferences. She authored an article in a special COVID-19 issue published by the Algerian Society of Occupational Medicine. Dr. CHENOUF Nassira also participated in a health survey of education professionals in Algeria.
Benhassine Wissal is MD, PhD and Professor in Occupational Medicine; she graduated from universities of Constantine and Batna 2. She is ergonomic graduated from university of Tlemcen, Algeria. She is a teacher-researcher at the Faculty of Medicine of Batna where she contributes to the training of medical students. She trains specialist doctors in Occupational Medicine. She is the head doctor of the occupational medicine department at the university hospital center of Batna Algeria where she set up an occupational pathology unit and installed a occupational mental health consultation. She conducts research in the field of mental health at work, the organization of work in healthcare structures and emergency services, the diagnosis and monitoring of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, mainly back pain. She is an expert doctor for the social insurance funds of three Wilayas. Currently, she is working on a research project on the work organization of Emergency Services and its impact on employee well-being and patient safety.