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Thirst at work — an occupational hazard?

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Abstract

Of 1492 teachers 791 (53%) responded to a survey addressing whether voiding habits at work or behavioral factors influenced by this occupation predisposed women to urinary tract infection. The mean number of voids during the work day was 2.7±1.4; 24.5% voided infrequently (never or only once) and 26.5% voided four or more times during the work day; 15.8% had had a urinary tract infection in the preceding year. Half of the respondents made a conscious effort to drink less while working, to avoid needing to use the toilet. There was no association between the prevalence of urinary tract infection and the number of voids or infrequent voiding at work. Compared to women who drank the volume they desired at work, those who drank less had a 2.21-fold higher risk (95% CI 1.45–3.38) of urinary tract infection after controlling for being parous, voiding infrequently at work, and urge incontinence. Further study is warranted to determine whether modification of behavioral factors at work can reduce the incidence of urinary tract infections. If this association holds, public policy must be changed to allow workers more adequate access to toilet facilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2 BT-GH, University of Iowa College of Medicine, 52242, Iowa City, IA, USA

    I. Nygaard

  2. University of Iowa College of Law, Iowa City, USA

    M. Linder

Authors
  1. I. Nygaard
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  2. M. Linder
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Additional information

EDITORIAL COMMENT: The authors address an important issue which has largely been ignored, both in the literature and by public legislature.

Toilet access at work is a public health issue with far-reaching ramifications. The majority of women in the workforce have free access to toilets; however, recent reports suggest that certain companies have instituted employment practices that encourage urine retention. This may actively encourage women to consciously decrease their fluid intake at work and may lead to subsequent health problems, including urinary tract infections.

This is a descriptive study conducted by survey of female public school teachers in two midwestern school districts. The survey included questions regarding voiding habits at work, allotted breaks, bladder complaints and subsequent urinary tract infections.

Unfortunately, this type of study is difficult to employ. Drawbacks include the lack of questions regarding sexual activity, which has been strongly linked to subsequent urinary tract infections. Also, the response rate was fairly low, at 53%. The authors acknowledge these drawbacks and also comment on the fact that documentation of the urinary tract infections was not assessed objectively. Even though these drawbacks are significant and affect the study to a large degree, important questions are raised regarding public policy towards toilet access at work. This study is important in that it increases our awareness of this problem and the significant impact it may have on womens’ lives and health issues. This will, hopefully, stimulate further research to determine whether limited access to toilets at work influences the incidence of urinary tract infections and other urinary complaints in women.

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Nygaard, I., Linder, M. Thirst at work — an occupational hazard?. Int Urogynecol J 8, 340–343 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02765593

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