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A Study on the Awareness of Dental Hygienists on Maternity Protection and Work-Family Balance Assistance Policy
J Dent Hyg Sci 2023;23:396-407
Published online December 31, 2023;  https://doi.org/10.17135/jdhs.2023.23.4.396
© 2023 Korean Society of Dental Hygiene Science.

Seon-Hui Kwak1 ,2, Bo-Mi Shin1 ,2,3, and Soo-Myoung Bae1,2,3,†

1Department of Dental Hygiene, College of Dentistry, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung 25457, 2Research Institute of Dental Hygiene Science, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung 25457, 3Research Institute of Oral Science, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung 25457, Korea
Correspondence to: Soo-Myoung Bae, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1802-4129
Department of Dental Hygiene, College of Dentistry, Gangneung-Wonju National University, 7 Jukheon-gil, Gangneung 25457, Korea
Tel: +82-33-640-2756, Fax: +82-33-642-6410, E-mail: edelweiss@gwnu.ac.kr
Received December 6, 2023; Revised December 15, 2023; Accepted December 21, 2023.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Background: This study investigated the awareness and utilization of maternity protection and work-family balance support policies among dental hygienists in dental hospitals and clinics.
Methods: We surveyed 200 dental hygienists. Twenty-two who did not meet the inclusion criteria were excluded, leaving 178 participants for analysis. The self-administered 48-item questionnaire gathered information on demographics, workplace details, policy awareness, government knowledge, and suggestions for improvement.
Results: Awareness of maternity and family support programs significantly differed with age, marital status, number of children, and clinical experience. Dental hygienists in general hospitals and university hospitals reported greater ease of utilizing these policies compared to those in dental clinics. Among the participants, 27.7% took pre- and post-maternity leave, 26.6% took parental leave, 16.9% had reduced working hours during pregnancy, 15.8% had reduced working hours during childhood,and 8.5% during family leave. To promote program uptake, participants suggested mandatory implementation across workplaces (68.4%), expanded support for substitute workers (48.6%), and increased education and promotion of government support (42.4%).
Conclusion: While most dental hygienists were aware of the Maternity Protection and Work-Family Balance Assistance Policy, utilizing it proved challenging due to several factors. Organizational policies or practices may not fully implement this policy, while workplace culture could discourage its use. Unfair treatment and the lack of available substitutes further hindered access. To prevent career interruptions for dental hygienists due to pregnancy, childbirth, childcare, and family care, and to maintain career continuity, the dental community and government should establish a multifaceted social support system. This system should prioritize several key areas: strengthening policy promotion, fostering a family-friendly atmosphere, improving management and supervision of policy implementation and developing a robust support system for substitute personnel.
Keywords : Dental hygienists, Family leave, Parental leave, Working conditions, Work-life balance
Introduction

1.Background

One in six married women in Korea experiences career interruptions due to life cycle events like marriage, child-care, and childbirth, according to a 2022 Statistics Korea survey1). These interruptions typically occur in life cycle events such as childbirth, childcare, and marriage, which occur in the late 20s to early 40s, a crucial period for economic activity, and are known to negatively impact female workers’ long-term career management2-4).

Recognizing this challenge, the government actively implements specific systems and policies to prevent career disruptions and support female workers’ employment secu-rity and participation in economic activities5). Representative policies in this regard include maternity protection and work-family balance assistance, established under the Labor Standards Act6) and the Equal Employment Oppor-tunity and Work-family Balance Support Act (Gender Emp-loyment Equality Act)7).

The maternity protection policy provides pre- and post- natal leave and reduced working hours during pregnancy, while the work-family balance assistance policy offers pare-ntal leave, reduced working hours during childhood, and family leave8). Research suggests that these policies posi-tively impact female workers’ job satisfaction, commitment, personal development, and work-family balance9-11).

Despite these benefits, underutilization remains a concern, with many women opting to leave their jobs instead. Orga-nizational cultures that discourage policy use and lack of su-pport for finding substitutes are often cited as key reasons12).

Globally, a staggering 80% of dental hygienists experience career interruptions due to childcare responsibilities13). In Korea, many married female dental hygienists in their 30s and 40s have similarly faced at least one career disruption due to marriage, childbirth, or childcare14,15). Yet, these expe-rienced professionals possess valuable knowledge, expertise, and skills honed through years of practice. Their career interruptions related to maternity and parenthood can have significant consequences: wasted professional resources, increased recruitment and training costs, and a potential decline in care quality, ultimately impacting the population’s oral health16-18). Notably, Korea’s active dental hygienist workforce sits at 49.3%, decreasing annually, and the labor shortage is intensifying19). Considering that life-cycle events like childbirth and child-rearing are primary reasons for dental hygienists leaving the field, finding effective solutions to help them maintain work-family balance and job continuity is crucial to addressing the workforce gap20). However, a lack of research specifically examining the utilization of maternity protection and work-family support policies by dental hygienists hinders our understanding of the true extent of career disruptions within dental hygienists.



2.Objectives

This study aimed to assess, via a survey, dental hygi-enists’ awareness and utilization of maternity protection and work-family balance policies in hospitals and clinics, generating baseline data for policy improvements and a better working environment for dental hygienists.

Materials and Methods

1.Study design

This study, approved by the Institutional Review Board of Gangneung-Wonju National University (IRB No. GWNUIRB-2022-4), sought to gauge dental hygienists’ perspectives on maternity protection and work-family ba-lance assistance policies. We conducted a survey targeting those working in dental hospitals and clinics.



2.Study subjects

The participants were dental hygienists from dental cli-nics. We used G*power 3.1.9.7 to calculate the needle sample size, aiming for 90% power, a 0.05 significance level, and an effect size of 0.30. This yielded a required minimum of 172 participants. Anticipating a 15% dropout rate, we recruited 200 individuals. The survey was distri-buted only to dental hygienists on an online community forum after informing them of the study’s purpose. Parti-cipants were required to provide consent by checking the “I agree to participate” box within the online questionnaire. Of the 200 collected samples, 22 did not meet the selection criteria, leaving 178 valid responses for data analysis.



3.Materials

The questionnaire was developed by extracting ques-tions from three existing surveys: a work-family balance study conducted by the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Korea Women’s Policy Research Institute12), Kim and Kim’s21) research on improving Korea’s maternity protection systems, and An and Han’s22) analysis of nurses’ utilization of maternity protection systems. The questionnaire comprised 48 questions covering various sections and was developed using the Google forms platform.

Demographic information consisted of six questions that assessed age, clinical experience, marital status, childbirth history, number of children, and work type. Three further questions gathered information about the dental clinic, including location, type, and employee count.

The maternity protection and work-family support sys-tem awareness consisted of 36 questions that explored awareness of five systems: pre- and post-natal leave, mate-rnity work-hour reduction, parental leave, childcare work- hour reduction, and family leave. This section also investi-gated the ease of policy utilization within the clinic, per-sonal experience using them, and any unfair treatment faced afterward.

Awareness of government-support programs consisted of two questions that gauged familiarity with government benefits for workers and businesses using relevant pro-grams. These benefits include pre- and post-natal leave, parental leave, childcare work-hour reduction, employer benefits, and childcare substitute worker subsidies. Identi-fying dental hygienists’ awareness of these programs gui-ded their inclusion in the survey.

Regarding the improvement plan, one open-ended question asked for suggestions on revitalizing maternity and work- family support systems. Additionally, respondents could freely provide further feedback beyond the proposed acti-vation measures.



4.Data analysis

After cleaning the data in SPSS version 25 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA), we conducted a cross-tabulation ana-lysis to examine how participant awareness of the policies, the government-supported system, its clinic-level usefulness, and personal usage experience varied across diverse gene-ral characteristics. Frequency analyses revealed the most common reasons why participants had not used these policies, as well as their suggestions for revitalizing them.

Results

1.Awareness of maternity and work-family balance assistance policies based on general characteristics

Table 1 shows the results of awareness regarding mate-rnity protection and work-family balance assistance policies. Over 60% of dental hygienists were aware of pre- and post-natal leave (67.8%), reduced working hours during pregnancy (66.7%), and parental leave (69.5%). However, awareness of reduced working hours during childhood and family leave was significantly lower at 48.6% and 30.5%, respectively. Regarding general characteristics, awareness was highest among those with two or more children, and participants with more years of clinical experience tended to be more aware of the policies (p<0.001).


Awareness of Maternity and Work-family Balance Assistance Policies by General Characteristics

Variable Pre- and post-natal leave p* Reduction of working hours during pregnancy p* Parental leave p* Reduction of working hours during childhood p* Family leave p*





I know Don’t know I know Don’t know I know Don’t know I know Don’t know I know Don’t know
Total 120 (67.8) 57 (32.2) 118 (66.7) 59 (33.3) 123 (69.5) 54 (30.5) 86 (48.6) 91 (51.4) 54 (30.5) 123 (69.5)
Age
20∼29 years old 24 (42.1) 33 (57.9) <0.001 22 (38.6) 35 (61.4) <0.001 29 (50.9) 28 (49.1) <0.001 17 (29.8) 40 (70.2) 0.002 8 (14.0) 49 (86.0) 0.003
30∼39 years old 72 (79.1) 19 (20.9) 72 (79.1) 19 (20.9) 70 (76.9) 21 (23.1) 51 (56.0) 40 (44.0) 33 (36.3) 58 (63.7)
40 years of age or older 24 (82.8) 5 (17.2) 24 (82.8) 5 (17.2) 24 (82.8) 5 (17.2) 18 (62.1) 11 (37.9) 13 (44.8) 16 (55.2)
Marital status
Married 80 (88.9) 10 (11.1) <0.001 81 (90.0) 9 (10.0) <0.001 77 (85.6) 13 (14.4) <0.001 62 (68.9) 28 (31.1) <0.001 40 (44.4) 50 (55.6) <0.001
Unmarried 40 (46.0) 47 (54.0) 37 (42.5) 50 (57.5) 46 (52.9) 41 (47.1) 24 (27.6) 63 (72.4) 14 (16.1) 73 (83.9)
Number of children
No children 60 (52.2) 55 (47.8) <0.001 60 (52.2) 55 (47.8) <0.001 67 (58.3) 48 (41.7) <0.001 39 (33.9) 76 (66.1) <0.001 22 (19.1) 93 (80.9) <0.001
One 36 (94.7) 2 (5.3) 36 (94.7) 2 (5.3) 33 (86.8) 5 (13.2) 27 (71.1) 11 (28.9) 18 (47.4) 20 (52.6)
Two or more 24 (100.0) 0 (0.0) 22 (91.7) 2 (8.3) 23 (95.8) 1 (4.2) 20 (83.3) 4 (16.7) 14 (58.3) 10 (41.7)
Clinical experience
Less than 5 years 16 (34.0) 31 (66.0) <0.001 17 (36.2) 30 (63.8) <0.001 23 (48.9) 24 (51.1) <0.001 13 (27.7) 34 (72.3) <0.001 6 (12.8) 41 (87.2) <0.001
Less than 5∼10 years 43 (69.4) 19 (30.6) 41 (66.1) 21 (33.9) 42 (67.7) 20 (32.3) 26 (41.9) 36 (58.1) 15 (24.2) 47 (75.8)
10 years or more 61 (89.7) 7 (10.3) 60 (88.2) 8 (11.8) 58 (85.3) 10 (14.7) 47 (69.1) 21 (30.9) 33 (48.5) 35 (51.5)
Shift types
Full-time 104 (66.2) 53 (33.8) 0.111 102 (65.0) 55 (35.0) 0.102 106 (67.5) 51 (32.5) 0.161 73 (46.5) 84 (53.5) 0.029 46 (29.3) 111 (70.7) 0.416
Part-time 10 (100.0) 0 (0.0) 10 (100.0) 0 (0.0) 10 (100.0) 0 (0.0) 9 (90.0) 1 (10.0) 4 (40.0) 6 (60.0)
Part-time jobs 5 (55.6) 4 (44.4) 5 (55.6) 4 (44.4) 6 (66.7) 3 (33.3) 3 (33.3) 6 (66.7) 3 (33.3) 6 (66.7)
Other (short) 1 (100.0) 0 (0.0) 1 (100.0) 0 (0.0) 1 (100.0) 0 (0.0) 1 (100.0) 0 (0.0) 1 (100.0) 0 (0.0)
Dentistry type
Dental clinic 96 (64.9) 52 (35.1) 0.184 94 (63.5) 54 (36.5) 0.205 97 (65.5) 51 (34.5) 0.042 64 (43.2) 84 (56.8) 0.015 38 (25.7) 110 (74.3) 0.014
Dental hospital 11 (78.6) 3 (21.4) 12 (85.7) 2 (14.3) 11 (78.6) 3 (21.4) 11 (78.6) 3 (21.4) 8 (57.1) 6 (42.9)
General hospital 7 (100.0) 0 (0.0) 5 (71.4) 2 (28.6) 7 (100.0) 0 (0.0) 5 (71.4) 2 (28.6) 3 (42.9) 4 (57.1)
University dental hospital 6 (75.0) 2 (25.0) 7 (87.5) 1 (12.5) 8 (100.0) 0 (0.0) 6 (75.0) 2 (25.0) 5 (62.5) 3 (37.5)

Values are presented as n (%).

*The analysis was performed using a chi-square test.





2.Awareness of government support programs for maternity protection and work-life balance assistance policies

Table 2 presents the survey results on dental hygienists’ awareness of government support programs related to maternity protection and work-family balance assistance policies. For employee support systems, 58.2% were aware of pre- and post-natal leave benefits, and 63.3% knew about parental leave benefits. However, only 49.2% recog-nized the reduced working hours benefit during childhood. Interestingly, awareness of employee programs increased with age, with married dental hygienists were more infor-med than single ones (p<0.001). Additionally, having more children and clinical experience was significantly associated with greater knowledge of government-sponsored programs (p<0.001).


Awareness of Government Support Programs for Maternity Protection and Work-Life Balance Assistance Policies

Variable Support for employees Support for employers


Pre- and post-natal leave benefits p* Parental leave benefits p* Reduction of working hours during childhood benefits p* Subsidy system for parental leave p* Subsidy system for substitute labor p*





I know Don’t know I know Don’t know I know Don’t know I know Don’t know I know Don’t know
Total 103 (58.2) 74 (41.8) 112 (63.3) 65 (36.7) 87 (49.2) 90 (50.8) 78 (44.1) 99 (55.9) 74 (41.8) 103 (58.2)
Age
20∼29 years old 17 (29.8) 40 (70.2) <0.001 25 (43.9) 32 (56.1) <0.001 16 (28.1) 41 (71.9) <0.001 13 (22.8) 44 (77.2) <0.001 11 (19.3) 46 (80.7) <0.001
30∼39 years old 65 (71.4) 26 (28.6) 65 (71.4) 26 (28.6) 51 (56.0) 40 (44.0) 48 (52.7) 43 (47.3) 47 (51.6) 44 (48.4)
40 years of age or older 21 (72.4) 8 (27.6) 22 (75.9) 7 (24.1) 20 (69.0) 9 (31.0) 17 (58.6) 12 (41.4) 16 (55.2) 13 (44.8)
Marital status
Married 77 (85.6) 13 (14.4) <0.001 76 (84.4) 14 (15.6) <0.001 66 (73.3) 24 (26.7) <0.001 60 (66.7) 30 (33.3) <0.001 59 (65.6) 31 (34.4) <0.001
Unmarried 26 (29.9) 61 (70.1) 36 (41.4) 51 (58.6) 21 (24.1) 66 (75.9) 18 (20.7) 69 (79.3) 15 (17.2) 72 (82.8)
Number of children
No children 45 (39.1) 70 (60.9) <0.001 54 (47.0) 61 (53.0) <0.001 35 (30.4) 80 (69.6) <0.001 29 (25.2) 86 (74.8) <0.001 25 (21.7) 90 (78.3) <0.001
One 35 (92.1) 3 (7.9) 35 (92.1) 3 (7.9) 32 (84.2) 6 (15.8) 31 (81.6) 7 (18.4) 30 (78.9) 8 (21.1)
Two or more 23 (95.8) 1 (4.2) 23 (95.8) 1 (4.2) 20 (83.3) 4 (16.7) 18 (75.0) 6 (25.0) 19 (79.2) 5 (20.8)
Clinical experience
Less than 5 years 15 (31.9) 32 (68.1) <0.001 21 (44.7) 26 (55.3) <0.001 12 (25.5) 35 (74.5) <0.001 12 (25.5) 35 (74.5) <0.001 10 (21.3) 37 (78.7) <0.001
Less than 5∼10 years 31 (50.0) 31 (50.0) 33 (53.2) 29 (46.8) 25 (40.3) 37 (59.7) 21 (33.9) 41 (66.1) 19 (30.6) 43 (69.4)
10 years or more 57 (83.8) 11 (6.2) 58 (85.3) 10 (14.7) 50 (73.5) 18 (26.5) 45 (66.2) 23 (33.8) 45 (66.2) 23 (33.8)
Shift types
Full-time 89 (56.7) 68 (43.3) 0.416 98 (62.4) 59 (37.6) 0.166 75 (47.8) 82 (52.2) 0.396 65 (41.4) 92 (58.6) 0.073 61 (38.9) 96 (61.1) 0.047
Part-time 8 (80.0) 2 (20.0) 9 (90.0) 1 (10.0) 7 (70.0) 3 (30.0) 8 (80.0) 2 (20.0) 8 (80.0) 2 (20.0)
Part-time jobs 5 (55.6) 4 (44.4) 4 (44.4) 5 (55.6) 4 (44.4) 5 (55.6) 4 (44.4) 5 (55.6) 4 (44.4) 5 (55.6)
Other (short) 1 (100.0) 0 (0.0) 1 (100.0) 0 (0.0) 1 (100.0) 0 (0.0) 1 (100.0) 0 (0.0) 1 (100.0) 0 (0.0)
Dentistry type
Dental clinic 81 (54.7) 67 (45.3) 0.208 87 (58.8) 61 (41.2) 0.032 68 (45.9) 80 (54.1) 0.278 60 (40.5) 88 (59.5) 0.064 57 (38.5) 91 (61.5) 0.104
Dental hospital 11 (78.6) 3 (21.4) 11 (78.6) 3 (21.4) 9 (64.3) 5 (35.7) 10 (71.4) 4 (28.6) 9 (64.3) 5 (35.7)
General hospital 5 (71.4) 2 (28.6) 7 (100.0) 0 (0.0) 5 (71.4) 2 (28.6) 5 (71.4) 2 (28.6) 5 (71.4) 2 (28.6)
University dental hospital 6 (75.0) 2 (25.0) 7 (87.5) 1 (12.5) 5 (62.5) 3 (37.5) 3 (37.5) 5 (62.5) 3 (37.5) 5 (62.5)

Values are presented as n (%).

*The analysis was performed using a chi-square test.



Regarding support systems for employers, a substantial gap in awareness remained. Specifically, 55.9% of dental hygie-nists were unaware of the parental leave subsidy, and 58.2% did not recognize the subsidy for substitute labor during child-birth and childcare. Notably, younger age and less clinical experience were significantly associated with lower aware-ness of these government support programs (p<0.001).



3.Usability of access to in-dental maternity protection and work-life balance assistance policies

While over half of dental hygienists (50.3%) reported freely utilizing pre-and post-natal leave within their clinics (Table 3), accessing specific measures proved more chal-lenging. Freedom declined sharply for reduced working hours during pregnancy (64.4%), parental leave (59.3%), childcare work hour reduction (68.9%), and family leave (75.7%). Notably, the type of clinic made a significant difference in policy accessibility. Dental hygienists in dental hospitals, general hospitals, and university dental hospital enjoyed greater ease of use compared to those in dental clinics (p<0.05). Interestingly, access to reduced working hours during childhood did not vary significantly by dentistry type (p=0.071).


Usability of Access to in-Dental Clinic Maternity Protection and Work-life Balance Assistance Policies

Variable Pre- and post-natal leave p* Reduction of working hours during pregnancy p* Parental Leave p* Reduction of working hours during childhood p* Family leave p*





Free to use Unavailable Free to use Unavailable Free to use Unavailable Free to use Unavailable Free to use Unavailable
Total 89 (50.3) 88 (49.7) 63 (35.6) 114 (64.4) 72 (40.7) 105 (59.3) 55 (31.1) 122 (68.9) 43 (24.3) 134 (75.7)
Age
20∼29 years old 33 (57.9) 24 (42.1) 0.370 25 (43.9) 32 (56.1) 0.067 26 (45.6) 31 (54.4) 0.653 22 (38.6) 35 (61.4) 0.125 20 (35.1) 37 (64.9) 0.033
30∼39 years old 42 (46.2) 49 (53.8) 25 (27.5) 66 (72.5) 35 (38.5) 56 (61.5) 22 (24.2) 69 (75.8) 15 (16.5) 76 (83.5)
40 years of age or older 14 (48.3) 15 (51.7) 13 (44.8) 16 (55.2) 11 (37.9) 18 (62.1) 11 (37.9) 18 (62.1) 8 (27.6) 21 (72.4)
Marital status
Married 49 (54.4) 41 (45.6) 0.260 31 (34.4) 59 (65.6) 0.745 39 (43.3) 51 (56.7) 0.465 28 (31.1) 62 (68.9) 0.991 20 (22.2) 70 (77.8) 0.513
Unmarried 40 (46.0) 47 (54.0) 32 (36.8) 55 (63.2) 33 (37.9) 54 (62.1) 27 (31.0) 60 (69.0) 23 (26.4) 64 (73.6)
Number of children
No children 51 (44.3) 64 (55.7) 0.023 39 (33.9) 76 (66.1) 0.758 42 (36.5) 73 (63.5) 0.138 33 (28.7) 82 (71.3) 0.244 28 (24.3) 87 (75.7) 0.411
One 20 (52.6) 18 (47.4) 1436.8) 24 (63.2) 16 (42.1) 22 (57.9) 11 (28.9) 27 (71.1) 7 (18.4) 31 (81.6)
Two or more 18 (75.0) 6 (25.0) 10 (41.7) 14 (58.3) 14 (58.3) 10 (41.7) 11 (45.8) 13 (54.2) 8 (33.3) 16 (66.7)
Clinical experience
Less than 5 years 25 (53.2) 22 (46.3) 0.778 21 (44.7) 26 (55.3) 0.106 21 (44.7) 26 (55.3) 0.785 16 (34.0) 31 (66.0) 0.867 17 (36.2) 30 (63.8) 0.085
Less than 5∼10 years 29 (46.8) 33 (53.2) 16 (25.8) 46 (74.2) 25 (40.3) 37 (59.7) 19 (30.6) 43 (69.4) 12 (19.4) 50 (80.6)
10 years or more 35 (51.5) 33 (48.5) 26 (38.2) 42 (61.8) 26 (38.2) 42 (61.8) 20 (29.4) 48 (70.6) 14 (20.6) 54 (79.4)
Shift types
Full-time 81 (51.6) 76 (48.4) 0.466 59 (37.6) 98 (62.4) 0.131 67 (42.7) 90 (57.3) 0.190 49 (31.2) 108 (68.8) 0.466 40 (25.5) 117 (74.5) 0.666
Part-time 4 (40.0) 6 (60.0) 1 (10.0) 9 (90.0) 2 (20.0) 8 (80.0) 3 (30.0) 7 (70.0) 1 (10.0) 9 (90.0)
Part-time jobs 3 (33.3) 6 (66.7) 2 (22.2) 7 (77.8) 2 (22.2) 7 (77.8) 2 (22.2) 7 (77.8) 2 (22.2) 7 (77.8)
Other (short) 1 (100.0) 0 (0.0) 1 (100.0) 0 (0.0) 1 (100.0) 0 (0.0) 1 (100.0) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 1 (100.0)
Dentistry type
Dental clinic 67 (45.3) 81 (54.7) 0.015 47 (31.8) 101 (68.2) 0.019 50 (33.8) 98 (66.2) <0.001 40 (27.0) 108 (73.0) 0.071 27 (18.2) 121 (81.8) <0.001
Dental hospital 9 (64.3) 5 (35.7) 7 (50.0) 7 (50.0) 9 (64.3) 5 (35.7) 7 (50.0) 7 (50.0) 6 (42.9) 8 (57.1)
General hospital 6 (85.7) 1 (14.3) 6 (85.7) 1 (14.3) 6 (85.7) 1 (14.3) 4 (57.1) 3 (42.9) 4 (57.1) 3 (42.9)
University dental hospital 7 (87.5) 1 (12.5) 3 (37.5) 5 (62.5) 7 (87.5) 1 (12.5) 4 (50.0) 4 (50.0) 6 (75.0) 2 (25.0)

Values are presented as n (%).

*The analysis was performed using a chi-square test.





4.Experience using the maternity protection and work-life balance assistance policies

Table 4 reveals insights into policy utilization among those who had given birth. Notably, 27.7% availed of pre- and post-natal leave, and 16.9% utilized reduced working hours during pregnancy. Additionally, clinical experience played a significant role. Dental hygienists with more years of experience were more likely to have used pre- and post-natal leave, reduced pregnancy working hours, pare-ntal leave, and reduced childcare work hours (p<0.001). However, family leave utilization remained unaffected by clinical experience (p=0.734). Table 5 further details reasons for not utilizing policies that either restricted access or discouraged usage. Notably, some opted for annual or monthly leave instead of policy benefits.


Experience Using the Maternity Protection and Work-life Balance Assistance Policies

Variables Pre- and post-natal leave experience p* Reduction of working hours during pregnancy experience p* Parental leave experience p* Reduction of working hours during childhood experience p* Family leave experience p*





Never given birth Yes No Never given birth Yes No Never given birth Yes No Never given birth Yes No Yes No
Total 115 (65.0) 49 (27.7) 13 (7.3) 115 (65.0) 30 (16.9) 32 (18.1) 115 (65.0) 47 (26.6) 15 (8.5) 115 (65.0) 28 (15.8) 34 (19.2) 15 (8.5) 162 (91.5)
Age
20∼29 years old 55 (96.5) 2 (3.5) 0 (0.0) <0.001 55 (96.5) 2 (3.5) 0 (0.0) <0.001 55 (96.5) 2 (3.5) 0 (0.0) <0.001 55 (96.5) 1 (1.8) 1 (1.8) <0.001 3 (5.3) 54 (94.7) 0.451
30∼39 years old 47 (50.6) 36 (39.6) 8 (8.8) 47 (51.6) 21 (23.1) 23 (25.3) 47 (51.6) 36 (39.6) 8 (8.8) 47 (51.6) 20 (22.0) 24 (26.4) 10 (11.0) 81 (89.0)
40 years of age or older 13 (44.8) 11 (37.9) 5 (17.2) 13 (44.8) 7 (24.1) 9 (31.0) 13 (44.8) 9 (31.0) 7 (24.1) 13 (44.8) 7 (24.1) 9 (31.0) 2 (6.9) 27 (93.1)
Marital status
Married 29 (32.2) 48 (53.3) 13 (14.4) <0.001 29 (32.2) 29 (32.2) 32 (35.6) <0.001 29 (32.2) 46 (51.1) 15 (16.7) <0.001 29 (32.2) 28 (31.1) 33 (36.7) <0.001 11 (12.2) 79 (87.8) 0.069
Unmarried 86 (98.9) 1 (1.1) 0 (0.0) 86 (98.9) 1 (1.1) 0 (0.0) 86 (98.9) 1 (1.1) 0 (0.0) 86 (98.9) 0 (0.0) 1 (1.1) 4 (4.6) 83 (95.4)
Number of children
No children 115 (65.0) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) <0.001 115 (65.0) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) <0.001 115 (65.0) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) <0.001 115 (65.0) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) <0.001 5 (4.3) 110 (95.7) 0.020
One 0 (0.0) 29 (76.3) 9 (23.7) 0 (0.0) 16 (42.1) 22 (57.9) 0 (0.0) 28 (73.7) 10 (26.3) 0 (0.0) 14 (36.8) 24 (63.2) 7 (18.4) 31 (81.6)
Two or more 0 (0.0) 20 (83.3) 4 (16.7) 0 (0.0) 14 (58.3) 10 (41.7) 0 (0.0) 19 (79.2) 5 (20.8) 0 (0.0) 14 (58.3) 10 (41.7) 3 (12.5) 21 (87.5)
Clinical experience
Less than 5 years 45 (95.7) 1 (2.1) 1 (2.1) <0.001 46 (95.7) 1 (2.1) 1 (2.1) <0.001 45 (95.7) 1 (2.1) 1 (2.1) <0.001 45 (95.7) 0 (0.0) 2 (4.3) <0.001 4 (8.5) 43 (91.5) 0.734
Less than 5∼10 years 47 (75.8) 10 (16.1) 5 (8.1) 47 (75.8) 7 (11.3) 8 (12.9) 47 (75.8) 10 (16.1) 5 (8.1) 47 (75.8) 7 (11.3) 8 (12.9) 4 (6.5) 58 (93.5)
10 years or more 23 (33.8) 38 (55.9) 7 (10.3) 23 (33.8) 22 (32.4) 23 (33.8) 23 (33.8) 36 (52.9) 9 (13.2) 23 (33.8) 21 (30.9) 24 (35.3) 7 (10.3) 61 (89.7)
Shift types
Full-time 104 (66.2) 44 (28.0) 9 (5.7) 0.052 104 (66.2) 27 (17.2) 26 (16.6) 0.168 104 (66.2) 42 (26.8) 11 (7.0) 0.005 104 (66.2) 24 (15.3) 29 (18.5) 0.099 15 (9.6) 142 (90.4) 0.554
Part-time 4 (40.0) 3 (30.0) 3 (30.0) 4 (40.0) 2 (20.0) 4 (40.0) 4 (40.0) 3 (30.0) 3 (30.0) 4 (40.0) 4 (40.0) 2 (20.0) 0 (0.0) 10 (100.0)
Part-time jobs 7 (77.8) 1 (11.1) 1 (11.1) 7 (77.8) 1 (11.1) 1 (11.1) 7 (77.8) 2 (22.2) 0 (0.0) 7 (778) 0 (0.0) 2 (22.2) 0 (0.0) 9 (100.0)
Other (short) 0 (0.0) 1 (100.0) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 1 (100.0) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 1 (100.0) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 1 (100.0)
Dentistry type
Dental clinic 98 (66.2) 37 (25.0) 13 (8.8) 0.519 98 (66.2) 22 (14.9) 28 (18.9) 0.492 98 (66.2) 37 (25.0) 13 (8.8) 0.888 98 (66.2) 23 (15.5) 27 (18.2) 0.979 8 (5.4) 140 (94.6) <0.001
Dental hospital 8 (57.1) 6 (425.9) 0 (0.0) 8 (57.1) 5 (35.7) 1 (7.1) 8 (57.1) 5 (35.7) 1 (7.1) 8 (57.1) 3 (21.4) 3 (21.4) 4 (28.6) 10 (71.4)
General hospital 4 (57.1) 3 (42.9) 0 (0.0) 4 (57.1) 1 (14.3) 2 (28.6) 4 (57.1) 3 (42.9) 0 (0.0) 4 (57.1) 1 (14.3) 2 (28.6) 0 (0.0) 7 (100.0)
University dental hospital 5 (62.5) 3 (37.5) 0 (0.0) 5 (62.5) 2 (25.0) 1 (12.5) 5 (62.5) 2 (25.0) 1 (12.5) 5 (62.5) 1 (12.5) 2 (25.0) 3 (37.5) 5 (62.5)

Values are presented as n (%).

*The analysis was performed using a chi-square test.




Reasons for not Utilizing the Maternity Protection and Work-life Balance Assistance Policies

Variable Pre- and post-natal leave Reduction of working hours during pregnancy Parental leave Reduction of working hours during childhood Family leave
Reasons for not utilizinga
Company policy/practice is not to provide 9 (69.2) 13 (40.6) 0 (0.0) 16 (47.1) 43 (26.5)
By using annual |or monthly leave 1 (7.7) 3 (9.4) 1 (0.6) 4 (11.8) 39 (24.1)
By using sick leave 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 6 (3.7)
Coping with unpaid leave 1 (7.7) 2 (6.3) 1 (0.6) 1 (2.9) 20 (12.3)
I don’t know the policy 0 (0.0) 4 (12.5) 0 (0.0) 4 (11.8) 46 (28.4)
I don’t know how to apply for the program 0 (0.0) 2 (6.3) 0 (0.0) 1 (2.9) 34 (21.0)
Organizational cultures that prevent you from using the 5 (38.5) 16 (50.0) 9 (5.1) 16 (47.1) 31 (19.1)
Due to penalties for use (resignation, termination, discrimination, etc.) 1 (7.7) 4 (12.5) 1 (0.6) 6 (17.6) 13 (8.0)

The analysis was performed by frequency analysis.

aReasons were treated as multiple responses.





5.How to handle the vacancy of a dental hygienist due to the use of the policy

When a dental hygienist utilizes pre- or post-natal leave in their clinics, several methods are employed to manage their absence: 30.5% distribute the workload among exi-sting staff, 23.2% hire temporary contractual substitutes, and 21.5% recruit new full-time staff. During parental leave absences, 33.9% rely on workload sharing, followed by 27.1% hiring new full-time staff, and 26.3% opting for temporary substitutes.



6.Experiencing unfair treatment due to use of the maternity protection and work-life balance assistance policies

A concerning 28.8% of respondents reported experi-encing unfair treatment after utilizing maternity protection or work-family support systems. This manifested in vari-ous ways: 20.0% faced discrimination from colleagues, 15.0% were pressured to resign, 10.0% were unjustifiably dismissed, and another 10.0% received pay cuts as disci-plinary measures. Additional comments revealed experiences like department transfers, discouragement from using the system, and withheld employer-paid salaries.



7.How to promote maternity protection and work-life balance policies

Table 6 highlights desired measures to improve the situation. The most popular suggestion (68.4%) was man-datory implementation of maternity and family support programs across all workplaces. This was followed by calls for expanded support for substitute workers (48.6%), stren-gthened education and government promotion of the pro-grams (42.4%), and a shift towards flexible work systems, such as time-selective systems (40.1%).


How to Promote Maternity Protection and Work-life Balance Assistance Policies

Variable n (%)
Implement mandatory maternity protection and work-life balance policies in all workplaces 121 (68.4)
Increase education and outreach about government assistance 75 (42.4)
Simplify the application process 50 (28.2)
Expanded support policies for replacement workers 86 (48.6)
Ease the burden by enabling flexible work arrangements 71 (40.1)
Establish state-led workforce employment training centers to support training programs for retirees due to childbirth and childcare 36 (20.2)

The analysis was performed by frequency analysis.

Reasons were treated as multiple responses.


Discussion

1.Comparison to previous studies and suggestions

This study aimed to understand dental hygienists’ awa-reness, usability, and experiences with maternity protection and work-life balance assistance policies in dental hos-pitals, ultimately aiding in future improvements to their working environment.

General characteristics significantly influenced aware-ness. Participants with more children were more interested in these systems compared to those with none. Addi-tionally, higher age, marital status, and clinical experience correlated with increased awareness of both the policies and government support options for employees and emp-loyers taking maternity or paternity leave. These findings are consistent with Im et al.’s study23) study, indicating that the stress of parenting alongside an increased number of children drives a greater need for work-life balance support from government systems. Similarly, previous studies sug-gest female workers caring for children or families are more likely to be aware of such policies due to their heig-htened need for maternity protection and work-life bala-nce policies24).

However, the relevance of these policies extends beyond specific life stages, potentially impacting individuals throug-hout their child-reading and family roles. Therefore, it is crucial to explore strategies ensuring accurate understan-ding and use of work-life balance programs for workers, regardless of age, marital status, or childbearing experi-ence25). Collaborative efforts between the government and dental hygienist associations are key. Developing and distributing manuals on work-life balance policies speci-fically tailored for dental clinics could be valuable. Like-wise, strengthening outreach through text messaging and social media platforms—informing workers and employers of their rights, obligations, and available government support—can prevent underutilization due to a lack of awareness.

The study revealed a disparity in how readily dental hygienists could utilize these policies depending on their workplace. Those working in general hospitals or univer-sity hospitals enjoyed greater freedom compared to those in dental clinics. This disparity likely stems from the hos-pital environment, where established systems and anti- discriminatory measures facilitate smoother policy usage22). Yu’s26) research supports this, demonstrating that health-care organizations with active welfare systems and family- friendly policies significantly improve employees’ work- life balance, and boost organizational commitment. To mini-mize turnover and career interruptions among female emplo-yees, Yu26) further advises healthcare organizations to tailor support strategies to employee needs and consider factors like employee characteristics, and organizational size.

Likewise, Cho’s27) findings show a 30% reduction in career interruptions for female employees in workplaces with acce-ssible maternity or paternity leave policies. This confirms the crucial role policy usability plays in career continuity.

Therefore, to prevent career disruptions and establish a more supportive environment for dental hygienists, expa-nsion of social support is crucial. This ensures policies are readily available not just in general hospitals and uni-versity dental hospitals, but also within dental clinics. Additionally, active policy improvement measures are necessary. By strengthening implementation management and oversight under the Labor Standards Act and the Gender Employment Equality Act, we can effectively address career interruptions stemming from pregnancy and child-birth among dental hygienists.

Only 27.7% of dental hygienists utilized pre- or post- natal leave, and 26.6% took parental leave, highlighting limited policy uptake. Even lower were experiences with reduced working hours during pregnancy (16.9%) and childhood (15.8%). These findings are consistent with those of Moon et al.,17) who reported a 26.9% dental hygienist maternity leave utilization rate.

Organizational culture is a key culprit behind this low usage. Many companies lack established systems, actively discourage policy usage, or harbor internal discrimination. Additionally, a common practice of redistributing workload without hiring substitutes often burdens leave-takers and fosters pressure4). Negative attitudes from colleagues and supervisors further exacerbate the issue, requiring efforts to dismantle such negativity.

While government incentives exist to encourage employers to hire replacements during leave periods, their complex application process and practical problems, like finding suitable candidates, hinder effectiveness. To remedy this, system improvements are crucial. Streamlining the pro-cess, increasing accessibility, and simplifying benefit acqui-sition for employers are key steps.

One promising solution lies in the recently launched Substitute Labour Bank System, where pre-vetted workers are readily available to fill staffing gaps in the civil ser-vice28). Adapting this model, a dental hygienist manpower bank could be established under the leadership of relevant associations. This bank would aim to secure and manage dental human hygienist resources, allowing for flexible allocation to address staffing needs during leave periods. Such a system could prioritize previously career-interrupted hygienists, leveraging their experience and adaptability to benefit both clinicians and workers. This, in turn, could create a virtuous cycle that fosters professional development and career continuity for dental hygienists29).

While maternity protection and work-family balance policies exist, unfair treatment of dental hygienists who utilize them remains a troubling reality. Discrimination, forced resignations, unfair dismissals, and pay cuts are among the reported abuses, despite clear legal protections provided by the International Labor Organization’s labor guidelines30) and the Korean Labor Standards Act6). Em-ployers are legally prohibited from treating workers unfairly because of pregnancy, childbirth, and leave. Nevertheless, the fact that unfair treatment of leave still occurs shows that dental hygienists work without the protection of the law.

The government should strengthen its monitoring of workplaces to ensure compliance with labor laws and provide efficient channels for reporting and resolving unfair treatment. Dental hygienist associations can play a crucial role by establishing reporting systems and offering legal aid or mediation services.

Recommendations from the study participants offer further direction. Implementing mandatory policies across all workplaces, coupled with enhanced education and pro-motion of government support programs, could create a more supportive environment. Additionally, expanding support for substitute workers and promoting flexible work arrangements, such as part-time work options, can ease the burden of filling temporary vacancies.

Moving forward, a collaborative effort between the gover-nment, the Korean Dental Hygienists Association, and the Korean Dental Association is vital. By actively imple-menting the measures proposed in this study, we can ensure that dental hygienists can access and utilize maternity protection and work-family balance policies effectively.



2.Limitations

While this study provides valuable insights into factors influencing dental hygienists’ career breaks, it’s important to acknowledge its limitations. The sample size may not fully represent the entire population, and relying solely on questionnaires limited our ability to explore the nuances of policy utilization on an individual level. Nevertheless, this research holds significance as it lays the groundwork for future improvements in dental hygienists’ working envir-onment. By shedding light on key variables like policy awareness, accessibility, and actual usage, this study offers foundational data to inform further interventions.



3.Conclusion

While dental hygienists in this study demonstrated awa-reness of maternity protection and work-life balance poli-cies, utilizing them freely proved challenging. Restrictive clinic policies, peer pressure, and a lack of substitutes emerged as significant barriers. The government, dentists, and dental hygienist associations must join forces to esta-blish and implement robust social support systems. Only through such collective action can we create a supportive environment where dental hygienists can thrive both pro-fessionally and personally.

Acknowledgments

None.

Footnote

Conflict of Interest

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Footnote

Ethical Approval

This study was approved by the institutional review board of Gangneung-Wonju National University (IRB No. GWNUIRB-2022-4).

Footnote

Author contributions

Conceptualization: Soo-Myoung Bae, Bo-Mi Shin, and Seon-Hui Kwak. Data acquisition: Seon-Hui Kwak and Soo- Myoung Bae. Formal analysis: Soo-Myoung Bae, Bo-Mi Shin, and Seon-Hui Kwak. Supervision: Soo-Myoung Bae and Bo-Mi Shin. Writing-original draft: Seon-Hui Kwak. Writing-review & editing: Soo-Myoung Bae, Bo-Mi Shin, and Seon-Hui Kwak.

Footnote

Funding

None.

Footnote

Data availability

Raw data is provided at the request of the corresponding author for reasonable reason.

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