Association between maternal occupational status and utilization of antenatal care

Abstract

Differences in an individual woman's use of antenatal care is, besides many other factors, associated with occupational status. Antenatal care promotion should target trainees, students, and unskilled workers prone to insufficient utilization and its consequences, an increase in obstetrical risk. For these groups, the occupational physician may play a key role in reaching the pregnant women on time, as obstetric care reaches them insufficiently and too late. Although housewives are the most numerous group, inhomogeneity regarding their educational level and previous occupational status has to be assumed, calling for further clinical studies to design appropriate interventional concepts.

Antenatal care use in urban areas in two European countries: Predisposing, enabling and pregnancy-related determinants in Belgium and the Netherlands

“…Previous studies have shown that a low educational level is associated with late initiation of ANC [ 7 , 9 ], a low number of antenatal visits [ 6 , 28 ], receiving no care at all [ 6 ] and a lower probability of being in a higher CTP category [ 8 ]. Lack of a paid job [ 9 ] and type of occupation [ 29 ] have also been related to inadequate ANC use. Choté et al suggested that education may influence ANC use due to the level of general health knowledge and health literacy [ 9 ].…”

“…The compulsory universal cover offered by health insurers, which includes basic ANC in both Belgium [ 13 ] and the Netherlands [ 33 ] may play a part. However, the provision of universal cover seems to be insufficient to offset disparities in ANC utilisation [ 29 ]. The use of health care services can be measured in terms of realised access to these services [ 4 ].…”

An Association between Maternal Occupations and Low Birth Weight Infants in Japan from 1995 to 2015

“…In Japan, the number of times wherein the use of antenatal care is supported by public expenses substantially increased in 2009, and its effect on increasing antenatal care visits and reducing low birth weight rate has been verified in a prefecture in Japan [27]. Although an association between maternal occupation and the utilization of antenatal care has been reported in other countries [28,29], it has not been investigated in Japan. However, the utilization of antenatal care is still not free of charge, and it is considered that low maternal socioeconomic status could lead to the non-use of antenatal care.…”