Objectives: The influence a job--including its physical and psychological aspects--has on pregnant woman's chances of delivering prematurely.
Methods: Seven hundred and seven women who had given birth participated. Statements regarding her job and its stresses were obtained with a standardised questionnaire.
Results: Two hundred and thirty-seven of the 707 women delivered prematurely (<37 weeks), 471 at term. No increased incidence of premature deliveries was observed in working mothers or found in relation to physical stress. A link was observed due to a mother's dissatisfaction with her job ( p<0.001).
Conclusion: With changes in the workplace and adherence to laws protecting pregnant women, effective factors are in place that help prevent premature births. A prerequisite for this is the pregnant woman's contentment with her work.