Dataset Information

Role of maternal occupational physical activity and psychosocial stressors on adverse birth outcomes.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

We examined the association of an array of estimated maternal occupational physical activities and psychosocial stressors during pregnancy with odds for preterm birth (PTB) and small-for-gestational age (SGA).

Methods

Data for infants born without major birth defects delivered from 1997 to 2009 whose mothers reported working at least 1 month during pregnancy were obtained from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study. We linked occupational codes to the US Department of Labor's Occupational Information Network, which provides estimates of exposure for multiple domains of physical activity and psychosocial stressors by occupational categories. We conducted factor analysis using principal components extraction with 17 occupational activities and calculated factor scores. ORs for PTB and SGA across quartiles of factor scores in each trimester were computed using logistic regression.

Results

Factor analysis grouped occupational domains into 4 groups based on factor loadings. These groups were 'occupational physical activity', 'interpersonal stressor', 'automated work' and 'job responsibility'. High levels of 'occupational physical activity' were significantly associated with SGA (adjusted OR (AOR) for highest quartile compared with lowest quartile of factor score: 1.36; 95% CIs 1.02 to 1.82; p for trend=0.001) and were also positively associated with PTB (AOR: 1.24; 95% CI 0.93 to 1.64; p for trend=0.01). No clear results were observed across domains of psychosocial stressors.

Conclusions

Our findings expand understanding of associations between occupational physical activity and psychosocial stressors and PTB and SGA and suggest that additional research is needed to further examine these relationships.

SUBMITTER: Lee LJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5394923 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:BACKGROUND:The prevalence of preterm birth and low birth weight has been increasing slightly in recent years. A few studies have suggested that psychosocial stress during pregnancy may increase risk for these adverse birth outcomes. To extend those observations, we analyzed various major life event stressors separately and cumulatively as potential risk factors for preterm birth and low birth weight using granular categories of each outcome in a large, population-based study. Additionally, we assessed if greater social support buffered any effects. METHODS:Data were from a nested prevalence study of 4395 women in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study who delivered live-born non-malformed infants (controls) between 2006 and 2011. Participants completed a standardized, computer-assisted interview between 6?weeks and 24?months after delivery that included questions on stress and social support from 3?months before pregnancy to the 3rd month of pregnancy. Cumulative stress and support indices were also calculated. Preterm birth was divided into "early preterm" (<?32?weeks), "late preterm" (32-36?weeks) and "term." Low birthweight was divided into "very low birth weight" (<?1500?g), "low birth weight" (1500-2499?g) and "normal birth weight" (?2500?g). Relative risks and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated using Poisson regression. RESULTS:For women reporting relationship difficulties, there was a suggestive risk of early preterm birth (RR: 1.9, 95%CI: 0.9-3.9) and very low birthweight (RR: 2.0, 95%CI: 0.9-4.4). For women reporting that they or someone close to them were victims of abuse, violence, or crime, there was an increased risk of low birthweight (RR: 1.8, 95%CI: 1.1-2.7) and late preterm birth (RR: 1.5, 95%CI: 1.0-2.2). There were no strong associations observed between social support questions and the various outcomes. CONCLUSIONS:Our results add some support to prior evidence that certain stressors may be associated with increase selected adverse birth outcomes risk. We did not find strong evidence that social support buffered the observed risks in our study.