TY - JOUR
T1 - Maternal occupation during pregnancy, birth weight, and length of gestation
T2 - Combined analysis of 13 European birth cohorts
AU - Casas, Maribel
AU - Cordier, Sylvaine
AU - Martínez, David
AU - Barros, Henrique
AU - Bonde, Jens Peter
AU - Burdorf, Alex
AU - Costet, Nathalie
AU - dos Santos, Ana Cristina
AU - Danilevičiūtė, Asta
AU - Eggesbø, Merete
AU - Fernandez, Mariana F.
AU - Fevotte, Joelle
AU - García, Ana M.
AU - Gražulevičienė, Regina
AU - Hallner, Eva
AU - Hanke, Wojciech
AU - Kogevinas, Manolis
AU - Kull, Inger
AU - Larsen, Pernille Stemann
AU - Melaki, Vasiliki
AU - Monfort, Christine
AU - Nordby, Karl Christian
AU - Andersen, Anne Marie Nybo
AU - Patelarou, Evridiki
AU - Polanska, Kinga
AU - Richiardi, Lorenzo
AU - Marina, Loreto Santa
AU - Snijder, Claudia
AU - Tardón, Adonina
AU - van Eijsden, Manon
AU - Vrijkotte, Tanja G M
AU - Zugna, Daniela
AU - Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark
AU - Vrijheid, Martine
PY - 2015/7/25
Y1 - 2015/7/25
N2 - Objectives We assessed whether maternal employment during pregnancy – overall and in selected occupational sectors – is associated with birth weight, small for gestational age (SGA), term low birth weight (LBW), length of gestation, and preterm delivery in a population-based birth cohort design. Methods We used data from >200 000 mother-child pairs enrolled in 13 European birth cohorts and compared employed versus non-employed women. Among employees, we defined groups of occupations representing the main sectors of employment for women where potential reproductive hazards are considered to be present. The comparison group comprised all other employed women not included in the occupational sector being assessed. We performed meta-analyses of cohort-specific estimates and explored heterogeneity. Results Employees had a lower risk of preterm delivery than non-employees [adjusted odds ratio (ORadj) 0.86, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.81–0.91]. Working in most of the occupational sectors studied was not associated with adverse birth outcomes. Being employed as a nurse was associated with lower risk SGA infants (ORadj 0.91, 95% CI 0.84–0.99) whereas food industry workers had an increased risk of preterm delivery (ORadj 1.50, 95% CI 1.12–2.02). There was little evidence for heterogeneity between cohorts. Conclusions This study suggests that, overall, employment during pregnancy is associated with a reduction in the risk of preterm birth and that work in certain occupations may affect pregnancy outcomes. This exploratory study provides an important platform on which to base further prospective studies focused on the potential consequences of maternal occupational exposures during pregnancy on child development.
AB - Objectives We assessed whether maternal employment during pregnancy – overall and in selected occupational sectors – is associated with birth weight, small for gestational age (SGA), term low birth weight (LBW), length of gestation, and preterm delivery in a population-based birth cohort design. Methods We used data from >200 000 mother-child pairs enrolled in 13 European birth cohorts and compared employed versus non-employed women. Among employees, we defined groups of occupations representing the main sectors of employment for women where potential reproductive hazards are considered to be present. The comparison group comprised all other employed women not included in the occupational sector being assessed. We performed meta-analyses of cohort-specific estimates and explored heterogeneity. Results Employees had a lower risk of preterm delivery than non-employees [adjusted odds ratio (ORadj) 0.86, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.81–0.91]. Working in most of the occupational sectors studied was not associated with adverse birth outcomes. Being employed as a nurse was associated with lower risk SGA infants (ORadj 0.91, 95% CI 0.84–0.99) whereas food industry workers had an increased risk of preterm delivery (ORadj 1.50, 95% CI 1.12–2.02). There was little evidence for heterogeneity between cohorts. Conclusions This study suggests that, overall, employment during pregnancy is associated with a reduction in the risk of preterm birth and that work in certain occupations may affect pregnancy outcomes. This exploratory study provides an important platform on which to base further prospective studies focused on the potential consequences of maternal occupational exposures during pregnancy on child development.
KW - Cohort study
KW - Europe
KW - Low birth weight
KW - Meta-analysis
KW - Preterm delivery
KW - Small for gestational age
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84938875177&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.5271/sjweh.3500
DO - 10.5271/sjweh.3500
M3 - Article
C2 - 25940455
AN - SCOPUS:84938875177
SN - 0355-3140
VL - 41
SP - 384
EP - 396
JO - Scandinavian Journal of Work Environment and Health
JF - Scandinavian Journal of Work Environment and Health
IS - 4
ER -
