Risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes by maternal occupational status: A national population-based study in South Korea

Abstract

Objective This study examined the association between maternal occupational status and adverse pregnancy outcomes in the general South Korean population.

Methods We analyzed 1 825 845 employed and non-employed women with a diagnostic code for pregnancy in the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database (2010–2019) of South Korea. Based on their employment status and type of occupation, we calculated risk ratios for three adverse outcomes: early abortive outcomes (miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, and molar pregnancy), stillbirth, and no live birth (diagnosis of pregnancy with no record of live birth thereafter, which include early abortive outcomes and stillbirth) with adjusting for covariates.

Results Overall, 18.0%, 0.7%, and 39.8% ended in early abortive outcomes, stillbirths, and no live births, respectively. The risk of early abortive outcomes and stillbirths was higher in non-employed women than in employed women, while no live births were more frequent in employed women. Those in the health and social work industry showed the highest risk of no live births. Manufacturing jobs (1.030, 95% CI: 1.013, 1.047) and health/social work (1.029, 95% CI: 1.012, 1.046) were associated with an increased risk of early abortive outcomes compared with financial and insurance jobs. Consistently higher risks of no live births were observed in the manufacturing, wholesale/retail trade, education, health/social work, and public/social/personal service occupation.

Conclusion Employment during pregnancy and several occupation types were associated with a higher risk of pregnancy loss. Additional research using detailed job activity data is needed to determine specific occupational causes of adverse pregnancy outcomes.