[Occupational risks during pregnancy: Feedback from occupational medical services]

To describe the follow-up of pregnancies at work and exposures to pregnancy occupational hazards.

A cross-sectional study was performed between January and December 2014 in occupational health services of Languedoc-Roussillon region. Eligible workers were interviewed by occupational health physicians (OHPs) after delivery and at the time of returning to work (exposure, anticipation, prevention, communication, sick leave). Occupational skill levels were classified according to the French standard classification of occupations (version 2003) from the French National Institute of Statistics. Socioeconomic deprivation was assessed using the Evaluation of Deprivation and Inequalities in Health Examination (EPICES) individual scale.

A total of 1347 workers were recruited. The mean age was at 30.7±4.5 years. Among pregnant workers, there were 54.2% of employees, 30.7% of intermediate occupations, 10.4% of managers and, 4.7% of manual workers. Twenty-two percent of workers were classed as deprived. Also, 43.2% of workers were exposed to three or more occupational hazards during pregnancy. Only 17.7% of workers had medical visits with OHP during pregnancy and 14.7% benefited from workstation adjustments. In contrast, the level of sick leaves was high (74.2%).

Our results argue for the need to follow pregnancies at work. However, the low level of prevention activities and the high level of sick leaves raise the question of the management of pregnant women at work.