Objective:

To analyze workload patterns of Ontario physicians during pregnancy and their return-to-work rates post-parental leave, highlighting the implications for gender equity in medical practice.

Key Findings:

• Overall workload increased slightly during the first two trimesters and declined in the third trimester.
• Most specialties followed the workload pattern, with exceptions in diagnostic imaging, medical specialties, and ObGyn.
• Return-to-work rates were high, with median times ranging from 133 to 270 days depending on specialty.
• Family physicians in major primary care models had higher return-to-work rates compared to those outside these models.
• Recent years showed lower return-to-work rates within 180 days postpartum, indicating longer leave durations.

Interpretation:

Increased workload in early pregnancy may reflect preparation for reduced income later, influenced by financial pressures and structural constraints in medical practice, such as limited parental leave policies.

Limitations:

• Study focused only on practicing physicians, excluding resident leave patterns, which may limit understanding of overall trends.
• Did not capture leave practices among male physicians or those who became parents through surrogacy or adoption, potentially skewing results.
• Findings are specific to Ontario and may not generalize to other regions, limiting broader applicability.

Conclusion:

Improving parental leave policies and financial support for physicians is essential for gender equity and accommodating childbearing in medical practice, as evidenced by the findings.