Center for research on occupational diseases, Tehran University of medical sciences, Tehran, Iran.
School of medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
BMC Womens Health. 2024 Jan 16;24(1):44. doi: 10.1186/s12905-024-02890-x.
Occupational exposures may be associated with reproductive health and pregnancy outcomes. This study investigated the association between occupational exposures and reproductive health, pregnancy outcomes, and the lactation period among hospital staff.
Seven hundred thirty-three female healthcare workers from hospitals affiliated with the Tehran University of Medical Sciences were invited to participate in this cross-sectional study. The measurement method for fertility consequences was self-report. Demographic characteristics, occupational data, medical history, and reproductive history were collected via data collection form. Finally, reproductive outcomes were evaluated in different occupational hazard categories.
Chemical exposures (solvents) were a risk factor for stillbirth. Prolonged working hours were associated with spontaneous abortion and breastfeeding periods. Shift workers did not have a higher frequency of reproductive and pregnancy outcomes, but the breastfeeding period was significantly decreased in shift workers. Psychiatric disorders were associated with preterm labour, low birth weight, and stillbirth in sequence with nervousness, depression, and mood disturbance. Furthermore, depression affects the breastfeeding period. Moreover, we found a link between job titles and infertility. In addition, socioeconomic status was related to stillbirth and infertility.
The study revealed that chemical and ergonomic exposures have associations with some reproductive outcomes. We also conclude that shift work could adversely affect the breastfeeding period. So, implementing some organizational strategies to control adverse health effects of occupational hazards and modifying shift work and working hours for nursing mothers is recommended.
职业暴露可能与生殖健康和妊娠结局有关。本研究调查了职业暴露与医院工作人员生殖健康、妊娠结局和哺乳期之间的关系。
邀请了来自德黑兰医科大学附属医院的 733 名女性医护人员参加这项横断面研究。生育后果的测量方法是自我报告。通过数据收集表收集了人口统计学特征、职业数据、病史和生育史。最后，在不同职业危害类别中评估了生育结局。
化学暴露（溶剂）是死产的危险因素。工作时间延长与自然流产和母乳喂养期有关。轮班工人的生殖和妊娠结局频率没有更高，但轮班工人的母乳喂养期明显缩短。精神障碍与早产、低出生体重和死产依次相关，表现为紧张、抑郁和情绪障碍。此外，抑郁会影响母乳喂养期。此外，我们发现职称与不孕之间存在联系。此外，社会经济地位与死产和不孕有关。
研究表明，化学和人体工程学暴露与一些生殖结局有关。我们还得出结论，轮班工作可能会对母乳喂养期产生不利影响。因此，建议实施一些组织策略来控制职业危害对健康的不利影响，并为哺乳期母亲修改轮班工作和工作时间。
