Almost two-third of people support the upcoming strike by nurses and midwives, a new survey has found.

According to the results, 64% of people support the upcoming industrial action, although support is much higher among women (71%) compared to men (56%).

Nurses and midwives who are members of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) are set to go on strike for 24 hours on January 30.

Last month, 95% of INMO members voted in favour of strike action due to an ongoing dispute over staff shortages and poor pay. If this dispute continues, there will be further 24-hour strikes on February 5, 7, 12, 13 and 14.

During these times, nurses and midwives will withdraw their labour, providing only lifesaving care and emergency response teams.

This will be only the second time that INMO members have gone on strike in the organisation's 100-year history. The last strike was in 1999.

The survey of 1,001 people was conducted between January 10-17. It found that just 11% of women disagreed with the action. This figure rose to 27% among men.

Meanwhile, 65% of people believe that it is unfair that nurses are paid less than other healthcare professionals, such as physiotherapists and occupational therapists.

Some 71% of women believe that the pay conditions of nurses are unfair. However among men, this figure falls to 59%.

When asked whether the Government could do more to recruit and retain nurses and midwives, 87% said they believed the Government could do more.

The survey was carried out by iReach.