The 'retrait préventif': an evaluation.
Risks of adverse fetal outcome by occupational group and specific work demands were derived from a large survey of work in pregnancy in Montreal, 1982-84. Among 56,000 employed women in Quebec who were pregnant in 1985, the most recent year for which this figure could be estimated, approximately 11,300 fetal deaths and 3,400 preterm births would be expected. It was calculated that about 680 fetal deaths were attributable to occupational factors, almost all ergonomic in nature. Withdrawal from exposure by reassignment or paid leave at about the 10th week could conceivably prevent half of these fetal deaths, but less than one fifth if delayed until the 16th week. About 110 preterm births were possibly related to occupation and might also be prevented by withdrawal from exposure. These estimated levels of benefit are obtained at a cost which is both financially substantial and threatening to equality of employment opportunity for women of childbearing age.
School of Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal.
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McDonald
D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006804:Ergonomics; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007587:Job Description; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D009790:Occupations; D016524:Parental Leave / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors