[Maternal and fetal morbidity related to delayed antenatal work incapacity]

To determine if there is higher maternal fetal morbidity associated to delayed antenatal work incapacity.

A case-control study was carried out, including 220 pregnant workers. They were divided into 110 women who delayed their antenatal work incapacity (cases) and 110 women who took it on time (controls). Sociodemographic and clinical data, which included maternal fetal morbidity, were registered. Results were analyzed by percentage values and arithmetic mean. Differences between groups were evaluated with Student's t test, chi square test, or exact test of Fisher. An alpha value was set at 0.05.

There were 48 (43.6%) women who had antenatal complications in the group of cases and 27 (24.5%) in the controls, p= 0.004. The most common complication in the cases was preterm labor (29.1%), and in the controls was threatening of spontaneous abortion (55.5%). Other significant variables were: higher maternal age in the cases group (32.2 vs 22.5 years, p < 0.001), and lower number of antenatal visits (8.2 vs 9.5, p < 0.001).

We conclude that there is higher maternal morbidity in women who delayed their antenatal work incapacity. It is recommended to give this incapacity according to present normative.