Management of occupational risk to reproduction in a Danish county.

Abstract

In Denmark pregnant women are entitled to receive maintenance allowances if the working conditions are suspected to be harmful to the fetus. The aim of the study was to evaluate these preventive measures taken to reduce occupational hazards to reproduction in Denmark. In 1985 1,247 pregnancies were identified in Ribe county during a 6-month period. Three hundred and forty-five women employed at the beginning of the pregnancy in manufacturing industries, construction work, health services, or agriculture were interviewed by telephone concerning their working conditions and the measures taken to reduce possible occupational risks. The response rate was 85%. On the basis of the interviews the risks and the preventive measures were assessed. Out of 200 women who had no changes in the working conditions during pregnancy, 46 (23%) had a working situation which was considered potentially harmful. For 57 the working situation was changed during the first months of pregnancy because of an assumed risk. The remaining 37 were out of work or received maintenance allowances because of occupational hazards. In this study a greater awareness than expected about possible occupational risks was found, but in some instances occupational risks were overlooked or neglected.