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


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Dunning
Kari
K
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267-0056, USA. kari.dunning@uc.edu
LeMasters
Grace
G
Levin
Linda
L
Bhattacharya
Amit
A
Alterman
Toni
T
Lordo
Kathy
K
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology