New research on how work and long hours increase risk of preterm birth

The following is an abridgement of an article originally published on the AIHS website.

New research on maternal occupational risk factors

More than three-quarters of Australian women work throughout their reproductive age, and this number continues to grow as more women enter the workforce. As a result, research into maternal occupational risk factors and what employers and employees can do to mitigate them, is valuable.

Preterm birth, or giving birth before 37 weeks, can have serious health consequences for children. A new study, led by Monash University, has found that some work conditions, such as shift work, long hours, and physical demands, can increase the risk of preterm birth for pregnant women and that work roles can be modified to reduce this risk.

Co-author and PhD student Haimanot Abebe Adane from Monash University’s School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine healthy working lives research group says,

“This study is important because preterm birth has been linked with health complications for children such as diabetes, hypertension, lung and heart disease later in adulthood."

Key findings

The study involved a systematic review and meta-analysis of 37 studies from 21 countries and found that pregnant women in physically demanding jobs, those working long hours or on shifts, and those exposed to whole-body vibration have an increased risk of preterm birth. It found that pregnant women who:

• Worked shift work had a 63 per cent higher risk of preterm birth than those who did not.
• Worked more than 40 hours per week had a 44 per cent higher risk of preterm birth than those who worked less than 40 hours.
• Worked in jobs that involved high physical exertion or whole-body vibration had a moderate increased risk of preterm birth.

However, it was found that pregnant women who:

• Work for long periods or lifted heavy weights did not have an increased risk of preterm birth (lifting more than 5kg at a time or more than 50kg over the course of a day).

Implications for workplaces and employees

The study suggests that employers should establish supportive workplaces, policymakers implement protective measures, healthcare providers conduct screenings, and pregnant women must stay informed and mitigate these job-related risks. Employers of pregnant women should consider modifying their jobs to reduce physical stress. Pregnant women who work in physically demanding jobs need to be aware of the potential risks and discuss them with their employers.

Study co-author, Professor Alex Collie also said the research review had important implications for both pregnant women and their employers.

“We know that work is generally good for health. We are not suggesting that pregnant women should not work."

"Most jobs are able to be modified in some way to reduce exposure to physical tasks."

Further reading

You can read the full article by AIHS here and the full study published by Public Health Reviews here.

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Sources

Shift work and long hours increase risk of preterm birth by AIHS, 7th January, 2024.

Maternal Occupational Risk Factors and Preterm Birth: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis by Public Health Rev, 23rd October, 2023.

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