Objective: To determine the effect of occupational physical activities on the outcome of pregnancy.
Methods: A case control study included two groups; the first one included 562 patients with spontaneous abortion as a case group, while the second one included 1200 ladies with full term deliveries as a matched control group. Occupational physical activity has been evaluated through the energy expenditure (fatigue score and intensity score) and the biomechanic load (abdominal pressure intensity score, relative chronic pressure and peak pressure scores) in both groups.
Results: The group of spontaneous abortion had a significant higher intensity score, fatigue score, unfavourable working hours and high working speed than the group of favourable pregnancy outcome. The study showed a significantly higher biomechanic load among the group of spontaneous abortion represented by higher peak pressure score, chronic pressure score, lifting and bending activities. The group of spontaneous abortion had a significant (P<0.05) higher housekeeping working hours per day than that of the control group. Also they had a significant larger family size and had a significant lower helping in housekeeping activities than the group of favourable outcome.
Conclusion: Excessive occupational physical activity has a definite detrimental effect on the outcome of pregnancy.