PREGNANCY-RELATED SICKNESS ABSENCE AMONG EMPLOYED WOMEN IN A SWEDISH COUNTY

Objectives The objective of this study was to analyze the variation of pregnancy-related sickness absence among employed women according to age, occupation, and degree of male-female domination within occupatio ns. Methods Data from a prospective study of all new sick-leave spells exceeding 7 d in 1985 and 1986 in the county of Ostergotland, Sweden, were related to the population at risk, through the Swedish Medical B irth Register. The subjects included in the analysis were all 7000 emp loyed women that gave birth in 1985 and 1986, of which some 3000 were sick-listed at least once with pregnancy-related diagnoses. Results Th ere was little difference in the pregnancy-related sickness absence be tween the age groups. The age-standardized rate for sick leaves involv ing pregnancy-related diagnoses differed substantially between occupat ions. Women in the metal industry had the highest rates; those employe d in administration, banking, and insurance had the lowest. White-coll ar occupations generally had lower rates and blue-collar occupations h igher rates, with some exceptions (eg, in saw mills, farming, and the chemical industry). Gender-integrated occupations had the lowest sick- leave rate, while extremely male-dominated jobs had the highest. The l atter association remained after adjustment for occupational area. Con clusions There were considerable differences between occupational grou ps in the rates of sick leaves involving pregnancy-related diagnoses. Some differences were related to physical load of the jobs being done, but not all. It seems important to consider also male-female dominati on within a job with respect to such sick leaves.