A pilot study on environmental and behavioral factors related to missed abortion.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the environmental and behavioral factors associated with the induction of missed abortion, with a particular focus on the relationship between job stress and missed abortion.

METHODS

This was a case-control study in which 552 women participated (267 cases, 285 controls). Job stress was measured using the Job Content Questionnaire 1.0 (JCQ1.0).

RESULTS

The case and control groups were significantly different for many factors, including age, physical exercise, exposure time to cell phone and computer, home refurbishment, ventilation, folic acid supplements, preference for fried food, reproductive knowledge, premarital health screening, parity, and supervisor support (P < 0.05). For job stress, the univariate analysis revealed that there was no significant difference between cases and controls. Logistic analysis revealed that physical exercise (2-3 times per week or >3 times per week) [odds ratio (OR) 0.433, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.213-0.881 or OR 0.268, 95% CI 0.106-0.680, respectively], ventilation (OR 0.415, 95% CI 0.251-0.685), folic acid supplements (OR 0.409, 95% CI 0.265-0.633), age (OR 1.102, 95% CI 1.033-1.174), and supervisor support (OR 0.870, 95% CI 0.768-0.986) were the significant factors contributing to the missed abortion (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Physical exercise, ventilation, folic acid supplements, and supervisor support were identified as protective factors for the prevention of missed abortion. Advanced age at pregnancy was a risk factor for missed abortion.