Sub-Health Status of Employed Women in Two Arab Cities

Abstract

Context: Underneath the strain of contemporary life and civilization, more rumored subjective complaints, discomfort, and manifestations with no typical pathologic features were reported, which is termed sub-health status. An evaluation of employed women's health status is necessary for developing health services and interventions to improve their health.

Aim: The current study aimed to identify the sub-health status of employed women in two Arab cities and compare the sub-health status of employed women in the two Arab cities.

Methods: A purposive sample of 400 employed women from 2 different Arab cities were included in the comparative cross-sectional research design. Data were collected using two tools, structured interview questionnaire and Sub-Health Measurement Scale Version 1.0 (SHMS V1.0).

Results: The mean score of the physiological health dimension among the Alexandria group was 31.92±4.2, and the Madina group was 34.16±6.2, both groups are classified as being in the disease status, and the statistical relation was highly significant (T test=9.255, P value=0.000). As for the psychological health dimension, both Alexandria and Madina groups were in the disease status. The mean scores were 32.60±3.2, 36.96±4.3, respectively, and the statistical relation was also highly significant (T test=11.645, P value=0.000). On the other hand, the Alexandria group showed a higher mean score (36.21±6.5) than the Madina group (33.77±3.0) regarding the social health dimension, and this difference was statistically significant (T test=8.476, P value=0.000); however, both groups were in the health status. The total subjective health status mean score among the Alexandria group was 7.3±2.3, and they rated themselves in disease condition while the total subjective health status mean score for the Madina group was 10.9±2.7. They rated themselves in sub-health condition, and the statistical relation was highly significant (T test=13.09, P value=0.000).  In general, the mean score of the total SHMS showed that both Alexandria and Madina groups were considered in the sub-health status, 105.03±17.9, 115.79±15.4, respectively, and the relation was highly significant (T test=19.789, P value=0.000).

Conclusion: Despite the mean score of the Madina, group's physiological dimension was slightly higher than the Alexandria group; both groups are classified as being in the disease status. As for the psychological dimension, both Madina and Alexandria groups were in the disease status. On the other hand, the Alexandria group showed a higher mean score than the Madina group regarding the social health dimension; however, both groups were in the health status. The total subjective health status mean score showed that the Alexandria group rated themselves in the disease status while the Madina group rated themselves in the sub-health state.  In general, the mean score of the total SHMS showed that both groups were considered in the sub-health status. Sub-health status among women, mainly employed women, cannot be fully known from traditional medical point-of-view. Second thought, women need to be handled with a holistic approach in which their physical, psychological, and social complaints must be managed probably to overcome the progression of these complaints into diseases.