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

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Reproductive Health
• Public Health

Background:

• Pregnancy in the workplace presents unique challenges regarding occupational exposures and health monitoring.
• Existing follow-up protocols for pregnant workers may be insufficient in addressing workplace hazards.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the follow-up of pregnancies among working women.
• To identify exposures to occupational hazards during pregnancy.
• To evaluate prevention strategies and their effectiveness.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study conducted in occupational health services.
• Interviews with workers by occupational health physicians (OHPs) post-delivery and upon return to work.
• Classification of occupational skill levels and assessment of socioeconomic deprivation using established scales.

Main Results:

• 1347 workers were recruited, with a mean age of 30.7 years.
• 43.2% of workers were exposed to three or more occupational hazards during pregnancy.
• Low rates of medical visits (17.7%) and workstation adjustments (14.7%) were observed, contrasted with high sick leave rates (74.2%).

Conclusions:

• There is a clear need for improved follow-up of pregnancies in the workplace.
• Low levels of preventive activities and high sick leave rates indicate potential shortcomings in managing pregnant workers' occupational health.