The effect of occupation on pregnancy and neo-natal mortality

Abstract

Summary o 1. Work during pregnancy is not unfavourable to the mother, except in the case of the weaving group. 2. Work during pregnancy tends to increase the frequency of premature birth and this is most marked in weavers, but this tendency does not occur if the mother ceases to work at the end of the sixth month. 3. Work during pregnancy in the weaving group increases neo-natal mortality, but only if work is continued after the end of the sixth month of pregnancy. 4. The present conditions, which exist in a comparatively large class of women, must have a deleterious effect on infant welfare in this country and could be remedied by the giving of sickness benefit after the end of the sixth month of pregnancy or by the organisation of a special insurance fund for pregnancy. In conclusion, I should like to express my thanks to the Medical Officers for Maternity and Child Welfare of the Ministry of Health for advice kindly given, also to the Medical Officers of Health, the Assistant Medical Officers and the Health Visitors and Midwives in different areas, who gave such valuable co-operation. My thanks are particularly due to Mr. W. T. Russell, of the Epidemiological and Statistical Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who carried out the statistical analysis of the figures given in the Tables.