Association between the occupation of pregnant women's partners and risks of infant low birth weight and preterm birth in a prospective birth cohort: the Japan Environment and Children's Study

Objective: We examined the association between the occupations of pregnant women's partners and infant low birth weight (LBW) and preterm birth (PB).

Methods: Birth outcome data were collected from 46,540 participants enrolled in the Japan Environment and Children's Study. Participants were recruited from January 2011 to March 2014. Associations between the occupations of pregnant women's partners and birth outcomes were examined using logistic regression models adjusted for confounding factors.

Results: LBW and PB incidences were 7.5% and 4.1%, respectively. In the major occupational group, the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of LBW for clerical (1.19; 1.03-1.37) and service workers (1.21; 1.05-1.39) were higher than those for professional and engineering workers. However, no associations existed between the major occupational groups of the pregnant women's partners and PB.

Conclusion: Partner's employment in clerical and service work increases the risk for LBW.