Employment during pregnancy and obstetric intervention without medical reason: labor induction and cesarean delivery.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Rising rates of labor induction and cesarean delivery, especially when used without a medical reason, have generated concern among clinicians, women, and policymakers. Whether employment status affects pregnant women's childbirth-related care is not known. We estimated the relationship between prenatal employment and obstetric procedures, distinguishing whether women reported that the induction or cesarean was performed for medical reasons.

Methods

Using data from a nationally representative sample of women who gave birth in U.S. hospitals (n = 1,573), we used propensity score matching to reduce potential bias from nonrandom selection into employment. Outcomes were cesarean delivery and labor induction, with and without a self-reported medical reason. Exposure was

SUBMITTER: Kozhimannil KB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4163009 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep-Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature