JOB ADJUSTMENT AS A MEANS TO REDUCE SICKNESS ABSENCE DURING PREGNANCY

Objectives This study examined the effect of job adjustment on sicknes s absence during pregnancy and also determined the conditions under wh ich such adjustments are obtained. Methods Data were derived from a na tionally representative survey on work conditions during pregnancy in Norway in 1989. For employees (N = 2713) remaining in the same job thr oughout pregnancy, the percentage of women on sick leave immediately b efore delivery was determined according to the need for job adjustment and the obtainment of job adjustment. Those obtaining job adjustment were grouped according to workplace size, labor-market sector, co-work er gender, educational level, work schedules, weekly workhours, childr en under 16 years of age in the household, and age. Results All told, 1691 women (62.3%) needed job adjustment, among whom 936 (55.4%) obtai ned such adjustment. The proportions of those on sick leave before del ivery were 45.2% for ''no need'', 67.9% for ''need - adjustment obtain ed'', and 79.2% for ''need - adjustment not obtained''. In the last ca tegory, the difference (versus ''adjustment obtained'') constituted 44 .5% of the weeks lost because of sickness absence in the last half of pregnancy. The odds ratio (OR) for obtaining job adjustment was larger for workplaces with more than 50 employees (OR 1.4) and smaller for j obs with work schedules other than daytime or shift work (OR 0.5) and also for women living with children under 16 years of age (OR 0.8). Co nclusions Job adjustment is associated with reduced sickness absence d uring pregnancy. Further studies should explore workplace characterist ics that make it difficult to obtain such adjustments, as required by law.