Female UK Army Service personnel are at greater risk of work-related morbidity on return to duty postpartum

What is it about?

What is it about?
Returning to work after giving birth is a challenge for most people, particularly if they are returning to a physically demanding job. For a period of time after giving birth, women serving in the UK Army are protected from having to take part in military operations, but once they return to work they are required to undertake a full range of duties compatible with any health and safety or medical restrictions. This requires high levels of physical fitness. This study showed that women returning to the Army after having a child are at greater risk of a combination of illness and sports type injury in the year after giving birth than before they became pregnant. The areas of greatest concern were postnatal depression and gynaecological disorders, and injuries to the back and neck. It was concluded that female Service personnel are currently unprepared for the demands of full active duty in the first year after giving birth.

Why is it important? 
The Army has a duty of care to the women it employs and is committed to returning women to work safely after giving birth. This is even more important since the announcement by the Defence Secretary in October 2018 that all UK Armed Forces jobs, including close combat Infantry roles, are now open to women. This study highlighted the period 6-12 months after giving birth as a particular concern in terms of the risk of illness and injury. As a result, the Army is currently trialling a bespoke military postpartum rehabilitation programme (The PERFORM Trial), due to report in 2021.


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