JOEM: Perceptions of Job Hazards Among Pregnant Women (November 2023)-JOEM: Perceptions of Job Hazards Among Pregnant Women (November 2023)

JOEM: Perceptions of Job Hazards Among Pregnant Women (November 2023)

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A study conducted in a large urban hospital system aimed to assess job perception and the request for accommodations among pregnant women. The survey included pregnant women from late first through third trimesters and analyzed associations between job perception variables, work characteristics, race/ethnicity, and income. The results showed that workers in service/support occupations were more likely to perceive the need for a job duty change and to request job accommodation compared to those in management positions. Perception of the need for a job change was higher in jobs with high physical demands and low substantive complexity. However, despite perceiving the potential harm, many pregnant women did not request or receive job accommodations. The study suggested that economic circumstances and employer policies may be barriers to pregnant workers' understanding of workplace hazards and their ability to ask for accommodations. The findings highlighted the importance of empowering pregnant women to request job accommodations and improving access to information about their options. The study also emphasized the need for better assessment of workplace risks during pregnancy and called for attention to modifiable hazards to protect maternal and fetal well-being. Further research could explore worker/employer characteristics explaining why job perceptions did not translate into requesting and receiving job accommodations. The study concluded by suggesting that healthcare providers play a crucial role in assessing workplace hazards, discussing potential needs for modified work during pregnancy, and providing guidance on job accommodations.

Keywords

pregnant women

job perception

request for accommodations

urban hospital system

late first trimester

third trimester

work characteristics

race/ethnicity

income

service/support occupations