Maternal Differences in Healthcare Provider-Led Conversations About Patients' Work Prior to Pregnancy, Pregnancy Risk...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Occupational Health
• Reproductive Health

Background:

• Healthcare providers play a crucial role in maternal health.
• Assessing occupational exposures is vital for a healthy pregnancy.
• Gaps exist in provider discussions regarding work and pregnancy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe characteristics of women asked about work pre-pregnancy.
• To identify demographic and occupational factors associated with not being asked about work.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 2016-2021 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) data.
• Inclusion of 157,724 mothers with recent live births from 48 jurisdictions.
• Descriptive comparison of weighted percentages across demographic and occupational groups.

Main Results:

• 36% of participants were not asked about their work by a healthcare provider in the year prior to pregnancy.
• Younger mothers, lower-income mothers, and certain Asian and Native groups were less likely to be asked.
• Mothers in occupations with known occupational hazards reported fewer work-related discussions with providers.

Conclusions:

• Healthcare providers should routinely inquire about patients' work.
• Assessing occupational hazards during prenatal care is essential.
• Improving communication can mitigate risks to pregnancy.