Korean J Prev Med.  2002 Aug;35(3):197-204.

Maternal Working Conditions on Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: A Prospective Cohort Study

• Cho JJ
• Kim JY
• Chung JJ
• Ko KS

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the association between working conditions and adverse pregnancy outcomes in Korea.
METHODS
We obtained data on health history, lifestyle, housework and working conditions, such as shift work, hours standing, working time, job demand, lifting at work and at home, between August and September 2000, from self-reported questionnaires. A group of 344, occupationally active, pregnant women from 51 industries were studied. Of the women studied, 328 women were further interviewed by telephone between November 2000 and September 2001. Result : Compared with daytime work, shift work increased the risk for preterm birth (an adjusted risk ratio of 2.74, 95% CI=1.02-2.62) and low birth weight (an adjusted risk ratio of 2.74, 95% CI=1.02-2.62). A significantly increased risk was found for prolonged standing, with an adjusted risk ratio of preterm births of 6.80 (95% CI=2.01-23.0). There were no significant differences in the incidence of spontaneous abortion between the occupational working conditions, with the exception of a previous history of spontaneous abortion.
CONCLUSION
These findings suggest that maternal working conditions, such as shift work and prolonged standing, contribute significantly to preterm birth and low birth weight.

Keyword

Low birth weight; Premature birth; Pregnancy outcome; Working women; Work schedule tolerance; Workload

MeSH Terms

Abortion, Spontaneous
Cohort Studies*
Female
Housekeeping
Humans
Incidence
Infant, Low Birth Weight
Infant, Newborn
Korea
Life Style
Lifting
Occupations
Odds Ratio
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Outcome*
Pregnancy*
Pregnant Women
Premature Birth
Prospective Studies*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Telephone
Women, Working
Work Schedule Tolerance