TY - JOUR
T1 - Unemployment and pregnancy outcomes
T2 - a study within the Danish National Birth Cohort
AU - Morales-Suárez-Varela, Maria
AU - Kaerlev, Linda
AU - Zhu, Jin Liang
AU - Bonde, Jens P
AU - Nohr, Ellen A
AU - Llopis-González, Agustín
AU - Gimeno-Clemente, Natalia
AU - Olsen, Jørn
PY - 2011/7
Y1 - 2011/7
N2 - Aims: To explore the relation between employment status, type of unemployment and pregnancy outcomes. Methods: A cohort study of 7,282 pregnancies of unemployed women and 56,014 pregnancies among women in paid jobs was performed within the Danish National Birth Cohort. Pregnancy outcomes were ascertained and information about lifestyle, occupational, medical, and obstetric factors was obtained. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) for fetal loss, congenital anomalies, multiple births, sex ratio, preterm and very preterm birth and small for gestational age status, adjusting for lifestyle, medical and obstetric factors. Results: There were no differences in pregnancy outcomes between employed and unemployed women but women receiving unemployment benefit had an increased risk of preterm birth (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.16, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.03—1.31) and having a small for gestational age child (aOR 1.08, 95% CI 1.00—1.19) compared with employed women. Women receiving sickness or maternity benefit had an increased risk of multiple birth (aOR 1.70, 95% CI 1.43—2.04), preterm (aOR 1.47, 95% CI 1.22—1.77) and very preterm birth (aOR 1.88, 95% CI 1.22—2.89), while those receiving an unreported type of support had an increased risk of preterm birth (aOR 1.40, 95% CI 1.02—1.93). Conclusions: We found no indication that being unemployed during pregnancy benefits or endangers the health of the child. Within the subgroups of unemployed women, we observed that women receiving unemployment and sickness or maternity benefits were at higher risk for some adverse pregnancy outcomes.
AB - Aims: To explore the relation between employment status, type of unemployment and pregnancy outcomes. Methods: A cohort study of 7,282 pregnancies of unemployed women and 56,014 pregnancies among women in paid jobs was performed within the Danish National Birth Cohort. Pregnancy outcomes were ascertained and information about lifestyle, occupational, medical, and obstetric factors was obtained. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) for fetal loss, congenital anomalies, multiple births, sex ratio, preterm and very preterm birth and small for gestational age status, adjusting for lifestyle, medical and obstetric factors. Results: There were no differences in pregnancy outcomes between employed and unemployed women but women receiving unemployment benefit had an increased risk of preterm birth (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.16, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.03—1.31) and having a small for gestational age child (aOR 1.08, 95% CI 1.00—1.19) compared with employed women. Women receiving sickness or maternity benefit had an increased risk of multiple birth (aOR 1.70, 95% CI 1.43—2.04), preterm (aOR 1.47, 95% CI 1.22—1.77) and very preterm birth (aOR 1.88, 95% CI 1.22—2.89), while those receiving an unreported type of support had an increased risk of preterm birth (aOR 1.40, 95% CI 1.02—1.93). Conclusions: We found no indication that being unemployed during pregnancy benefits or endangers the health of the child. Within the subgroups of unemployed women, we observed that women receiving unemployment and sickness or maternity benefits were at higher risk for some adverse pregnancy outcomes.
U2 - 10.1177/1403494811407672
DO - 10.1177/1403494811407672
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 21558297
SN - 1403-4948
VL - 39
SP - 449
EP - 456
JO - Acta socio-medica Scandinavica
JF - Acta socio-medica Scandinavica
IS - 5
ER -
