Unemployment and reproductive outcome. An Australian study

Abstract

The Mater-University of Queensland Study involves the follow-up of 8556 pregnant women who were enrolled at their first clinic visit. This analysis compares four groups of women categorized according to their own and their partners' employment status. Group 1 comprised women unemployed, partners not unemployed. Group 2 comprised women not unemployed with unemployed partners. Group 3 comprised women and partners who were both unemployed. In group 4 neither partner was unemployed. Initial analysis showed that there was a significant association between birthweight and birthweight for gestational age, and unemployment as reported by mothers. After adjustment for lifestyle variables (principally smoking) there were no remaining statistically significant associations.