Physical and Organizational Job Stressors in Pregnancy and Associations With Primary Cesarean Deliveries.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between exposure to physical and organizational job stressors during pregnancy and cesarean delivery.

METHODS: We sampled 580 employed women in California who participated in a nested population-based case-control study of birth outcomes. Adjusted multivariate regression analyses estimated associations between heavy lifting, frequent bending, high noise, extreme temperature, prolonged standing and organizational stressors (shift work, inflexible schedules, effort-reward ratio), and primary cesarean (vs vaginal) delivery, controlling for covariates.

RESULTS: Women occupationally exposed had higher odds of cesarean. Those exposed to daily manual lifting more than 15 pounds [adjusted odds ratio = 2.54; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.21 to 5.32] and at least four physical job stressors (adjusted odds ratio = 3.49; 95% CI 1.21 to 10.09) had significantly elevated odds of cesarean delivery. Exposed morbid women experienced greater risk; risk was lower among those with schedule flexibility.

CONCLUSION: Associations were found between modifiable exposure to physical job stressors during pregnancy and cesarean delivery.