Saudi female paramedics’ perceptions of challenges in the workplace: A qualitative study

Background: It is immensely important that Saudi women become involved in the field of paramedicine in larger numbers; however, anecdotally they continue to experience significant challenges that limit their opportunities for recruitment and deployment in the field. This study set out to explore working female paramedics’ perceptions of challenges in their workplace in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Methods: This study utilised a descriptive qualitative approach. Fifteen Saudi female paramedics were recruited to attend one of four focus groups in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Data were assessed using thematic analysis. Results: Three themes emerged from the focus groups that described the perceptions of Saudi female paramedics: personal factors, social factors and employment-related factors. They faced several challenges that could affect their family responsibilities, workplace duties and capacity to work in the field of paramedicine. Saudi society also challenged female paramedics, as the culture and traditions of the KSA limited their participation in the paramedicine workforce. Furthermore, they reported experiencing many employment issues related to recruitment to pre-hospital settings, resulting from organisational policies and procedures. Conclusion: This study investigated the perceptions held by a cohort of female Saudi paramedics of the personal and professional challenges they faced in the workplace in the KSA. The study findings and their implications for female paramedics suggest further research is required to understand the unique challenges they face and to develop various strategies to manage them.