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Occupational physical activity and pregnancy outcome.
A G El-Metwalli1, A M Badawy, L A El-Baghdadi
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mansoura Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology
|December 1, 2001
Summary
Excessive occupational physical activity, including high energy expenditure and biomechanic load, significantly increases the risk of spontaneous abortion. Women with physically demanding jobs face a higher likelihood of adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Occupational health and safety
- Reproductive epidemiology
- Human physiology
Background:
- Occupational physical activities are common among women of reproductive age.
- The impact of job-related physical exertion on pregnancy outcomes requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the association between occupational physical activities and pregnancy outcomes.
- To identify specific physical demands that may negatively affect pregnancy.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study compared 562 women with spontaneous abortions to 1200 women with full-term deliveries.
- Occupational physical activity was assessed using energy expenditure (fatigue and intensity scores) and biomechanic load (pressure scores, lifting, bending).
Main Results:
- Women experiencing spontaneous abortion had higher intensity and fatigue scores, unfavorable working hours, and faster working speeds.
- Significantly greater biomechanic load, including higher peak and chronic pressure scores, and more frequent lifting and bending, were observed in the spontaneous abortion group.
- Increased housekeeping hours and larger family size were also associated with spontaneous abortion.
Conclusions:
- Excessive occupational physical activity poses a detrimental risk to pregnancy outcomes.
- High levels of physical exertion and biomechanic load in the workplace are linked to spontaneous abortion.