Does work as a nurse increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes?
OBJECTIVE
We conducted a population-based study to assess whether work as a nurse during pregnancy increases the risk of low birth weight, preterm delivery, and small-for-gestational-age.


METHODS
The study population was selected from The Finnish Prenatal Environment and Health Study of 2568 newborns (response 94%) and included 128 (5.0%) newborns of nurses and 559 newborns of office workers (21.8%) as a reference group.


RESULTS
The risk of low birth weight (adjusted odds ratio = 1.02; 95% confidence interval = 0.32-3.22) and preterm delivery (0.81; 0.32-2.05) did not differ between newborns of nurses and office workers, but the risk of small-for-gestational-age was substantially higher among newborns of nurses (1.99; 1.10-3.59). This corresponds to a population attributable fraction of 2.5%.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that working as a nurse during pregnancy could reduce fetal growth.
Simcox
Amira A
AA
Institute of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Jaakkola
Jouni J K
JJ
D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D009726:Nurses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009790:Occupations / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires