Maternal and Environmental Risk Factors as Predictors of Poor Pregnancy Outcomes among Female Greenhouse Workers

Maternal and environmental risk factors during pregnancy are potential threats for poor pregnancy outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate maternal and environmental risk factors as predictors of poor pregnancy outcomes in female greenhouse workers (FGW).

This predictive correlational study was performed on 275 Iranian FGW in Kerman, southern province of Iran in 2018. Participants were selected by census method from six rural areas with the highest level of greenhouse cultivation. A research-made instrument included demographic characteristics, maternal and environmental risk factors, and pregnancy outcomes was used to collect data through closed interview. All pregnancies were evaluated for the frequency of poor pregnancy outcomes. A binary logistic regression was used to predict the role of some environmental risk factors on pregnancy outcomes among FGW using SPSS software (version 16).

 Mean age of FGW was 33.26±7.24 years. Among poor pregnancy outcomes in FGW; abortion, stillbirth, preterm birth, and low birth weight (LBW) were predicted by several maternal and environmental risk factors (P<0.05); while abnormality was predicted by only working in a greenhouse during pregnancy (P<0.05. None of the maternal or environmental risk factors could predict post-term birth (P>0.05).

Due to both maternal and environmental risk factors being associated with poor pregnancy outcomes in FGW, preventive educational intervention programs should be considered for this population.