Falls in workers during pregnancy: Risk factors, job hazards, and high risk occupations

✍ Scribed by Kari Dunning; Grace LeMasters; Linda Levin; Amit Bhattacharya; Toni Alterman; Kathy Lordo

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2003
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 144 KB
• Volume: 44
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0271-3586
• DOI: 10.1002/ajim.10318

✦ Synopsis

Background:

Although falls are a major source of trauma during pregnancy and 70% of pregnant women are employed, information on falls among pregnant workers is lacking. study objectives were to estimate fall prevalence and risk factors among pregnant workers.

Methods:

This retrospective cohort study used birth certificates to identify recently pregnant women. data were collected via phone, internet, and mail surveys. the primary outcome investigated was a fall at work during pregnancy. adjusted odds ratios (aor) and confidence intervals (ci) were calculated.

Results:

Of the 2,847 employed women, 26.6% (757) fell during their pregnancy and 6.3% (179) fell at work. walking on slippery floors, hurrying, or carrying an object occurred in 66.3% of work falls.

Conclusion:

The service and teaching industry should be evaluated for risk reduction. future research should determine if counseling during pregnancy will reduce falls in the workplace.