Amira A Simcox1, Jouni J K Jaakkola. 1. Institute of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: We conducted a population-based study to assess whether work as a nurse during pregnancy increases the risk of low birth weight, preterm delivery, and small-for-gestational-age. METHODS: The study population was selected from The Finnish Prenatal Environment and Health Study of 2568 newborns (response 94%) and included 128 (5.0%) newborns of nurses and 559 newborns of office workers (21.8%) as a reference group. RESULTS: The risk of low birth weight (adjusted odds ratio = 1.02; 95% confidence interval = 0.32-3.22) and preterm delivery (0.81; 0.32-2.05) did not differ between newborns of nurses and office workers, but the risk of small-for-gestational-age was substantially higher among newborns of nurses (1.99; 1.10-3.59). This corresponds to a population attributable fraction of 2.5%. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that working as a nurse during pregnancy could reduce fetal growth.
OBJECTIVE: We conducted a population-based study to assess whether work as a nurse during pregnancy increases the risk of low birth weight, preterm delivery, and small-for-gestational-age. METHODS: The study population was selected from The Finnish Prenatal Environment and Health Study of 2568 newborns (response 94%) and included 128 (5.0%) newborns of nurses and 559 newborns of office workers (21.8%) as a reference group. RESULTS: The risk of low birth weight (adjusted odds ratio = 1.02; 95% confidence interval = 0.32-3.22) and preterm delivery (0.81; 0.32-2.05) did not differ between newborns of nurses and office workers, but the risk of small-for-gestational-age was substantially higher among newborns of nurses (1.99; 1.10-3.59). This corresponds to a population attributable fraction of 2.5%. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that working as a nurse during pregnancy could reduce fetal growth.
Authors: Nicole Le Moual; Raphaëlle Varraso; Jan Paul Zock; Paul Henneberger; Frank E Speizer; Francine Kauffmann; Carlos A Camargo Journal: J Occup Environ Med Date: 2013-08 Impact factor: 2.162