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Author: Beresford, S. A.
Resulting in 2 citations.
1. Homer, Charles J.
Beresford, S. A.
James, Sherman A.
Siegel, Earl
Work-Related Physical Exertion and Risk of Preterm, Low Birthweight Delivery
Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 4,2 (April 1990): 161-174
Cohort(s): NLSY79
Publisher: Blackwell Publishing, Inc. => Wiley Online
Keyword(s): Birth Outcomes; Birthweight; Child Health; g Factor; Maternal Employment; Pre-natal Care/Exposure; Pre/post Natal Health Care; Pregnancy and Pregnancy Outcomes; Working Conditions

Although many women work during pregnancy, the effect of maternal job experience on pregnancy outcome is controversial. We investigated whether work-related physical exertion increases a woman's risk of delivering a preterm, low birthweight infant. We studied 773 employed, pregnant women included in the National Longitudinal Survey of Labor Market Experience, Youth Cohort (NLSY), a nationally representative sample of young adults. Data concerning work status, job title during pregnancy, and other factors affecting the outcome of pregnancy were obtained from the NLSY. Assessment of physical exertion was based on job title, using an established catalogue of occupational characteristics. Women in jobs characterized by high physical exertion experienced a higher rate of preterm, low birthweight delivery, defined as maternal report of delivery more than 3 weeks early and birthweight under 2,500 g (adjusted RR = 5.1, 95% CI = 1.5, 17.7). These findings support a policy of limiting work-related physical exertion during pregnancy.
Bibliography Citation
Homer, Charles J., S. A. Beresford, Sherman A. James and Earl Siegel. "Work-Related Physical Exertion and Risk of Preterm, Low Birthweight Delivery." Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 4,2 (April 1990): 161-174.
2. Homer, Charles J.
James, Sherman A.
Beresford, S. A.
Siegel, Earl
Maternal Work, Job Characteristics, and Birthweight
Presented: [S.L.], The Meetings of the Ambulatory Pediatrics Association, 1987
Cohort(s): NLSY79
Publisher: Ambulatory Pediatrics Association
Keyword(s): Behavioral Differences; Birth Outcomes; Birthweight; Child Health; Childbearing; Job Hazards; Maternal Employment; Occupations; Pre-natal Care/Exposure; Pre/post Natal Health Care; Pregnancy and Pregnancy Outcomes

Permission to reprint the abstract has not been received from the publisher.

The authors investigated whether work during pregnancy and two characteristics of work--physical exertion and occupational stress, defined as work with both high psychological demands and low job control--increase a woman's risk of delivering a preterm, low birthweight infant. Twenty-five hundred pregnant women in the NLSY were studied. Delivery of a preterm, low birthweight infant, the outcome variable, was defined as both gestation less than 38 weeks and birthweight under 2500 grams. Work status, job title, and data concerning other factors that might affect the outcome of pregnancy were obtained. Classification of job experience was based on job title, using an established catalogue of occupational characteristics. Analysis was by multiple logistic regression. Women who worked during pregnancy were less likely to deliver a preterm, low birthweight infant than women who did not work, even considering known socioeconomic and behavioral differences. Among women who worked, both high physical exertion, and low demand/low control work were associated with increased frequency of preterm, low birthweight when considered alone. When these job characteristics were considered together, and other factors related to birth outcome taken into account, only physical exertion remained associated with this outcome. These findings support a policy of limiting work-related effort during pregnancy.
Bibliography Citation
Homer, Charles J., Sherman A. James, S. A. Beresford and Earl Siegel. "Maternal Work, Job Characteristics, and Birthweight." Presented: [S.L.], The Meetings of the Ambulatory Pediatrics Association, 1987.