Background & Aim: Socio-economical changes have increased the women&aposs opportunity to take job in recent decades. The increased levels of women in work places, has resulted in a high interest in the potential adverse effects of work on pregnancy outcome. This study was conducted in order to surveying the association between occupational factors and preterm childbirth.

Methods & Materials: It is a cross-sectional study. Samples consisted of nurses and midwives (518 person) who working in Tehran&aposs universities of medical sciences hospitals. Also they delivered newborns in gestational age more than twenty weeks (term or preterm) in years 2001-2006. The subjects were selected using a multi stage sampling method. Data gathered using a self-administered questionnaire. Occupational factors labeled as fatigue score and working hours. The relation between Occupational factors and preterm birth was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (Chi-squared, t-test and Mann-Whitney U test) by SPSS software.

Results: Based on the study findings, the prevalence of preterm labor was 17.2% (95%CI=0.14-0.20). Although the proportions of unfavorable working conditions include: working at acute clinical wards, standing up more than 3h per each working shift, physical exercise, working in cold or hot weather, working in busy environment with continuous noise, being checker of visual and aural monitoring signals, working hours equal or more than 40 hours per week, and working fatigue score equal or more than 3 were higher in preterm group but it didn&apost show any significant relation with preterm birth.

Conclusion: According to the research findings, it seems that occupational factors do not have explicit effect on preterm childbirth. Therefore more investigations are recommended.

Key words: Preterm Labor, Occupational Factors, Fatigue

Background & Objective: Preterm labor is a major risk factor of mortality and morbidity in newborns and fetuses. Low birth weight is also a risk factor for mortality and various neonatal diseases. This study aimed to determine the association between the CRP levels in first trimester of pregnancy with low birth weight and preterm labor.

Methods & Materials: In this prospective cohort study, we measured serum CRP levels in 400 pregnant women up to 20 weeks of gestation. All participants were followed up to delivery. Preterm labor was defined as delivery before 37 weeks of gestation. Low birth weight was defined as weight less than 2500 g at birth. Statistical analysis was done using Chi-square, Logistic regression, and ROC curve. P-values less than 0.05 were considered to be significant.

Results: After controlling for the effects of age above 35 years, mothers&apos occupations, history of preterm labor, socio-economic status, history of abortion, primiparity, and passive smoking, logistic regression analysis showed statistically significant relationship between the CRP and preterm labor (P-value=0.000, OR=1.24, %95 CI=1.11-1.38). However, there were no significant relationships between the CRP levels with other factors. Using Roc curve, we determined CRP cut-off point level for preterm labor. With 81% sensitivity, and 64% specificity, CRP cut-off point was 3.45 mg/l. After controlling for the effects of low socio-economic status, history of LBW, history of abortion, gravidity, primiparity, and passive smoking, logistic regression analysis showed statistically significant association between the CRP levels and LBW (OR=1.31, CI %95=1.08-1.59, P=0.005). However, there were no significant relationships between CRP levels with other factors. CRP cut-off point level for LBW was determined using Roc curve. With 87.5% sensitivity, and 74% specificity, CRP cut-off point was 4.75 mg/l.

Conclusion: It seems that the inflammatory marker, CRP, can be used to identify women who are at high risk for preterm labor and LBW. However, larger studies are needed to establish this relationship definitively

Background & Aim: This study aimed to assess the relationships between iron and copper levels in maternal and cord serums together and with pregnancy outcomes.

Methods & Materials: An Analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 370 pregnant women in labor and their neonates in Maryam, Akbarabadi and Imam hospitals in Tehran, Iran. Copper concentrations were measured using the standard atomic absorption spectrophotometer method and Iron concentrations were measured by a kit through RA 1000 method. Data were collected using a questionnaire and were analyzed using Spearman correlation, Chi- square and Logistic regression tests.

Results: The mean copper concentrations in the maternal and cord bloods at delivery were 114.52±37.4, 22.4±11.6 (μg/dl), respectively. The Iron levels were 119.2±64, 164.3±65.3 (μg/dl), respectively. Of all the mothers, 54.3% had copper deficiency, 1.1% Iron deficiency and of all the newborns, 44.7% had copper deficiency and 3.5% Iron deficiency. The Spearman Correlation analysis showed significant positive correlations between concentrations of each element in maternal serum with cord serum and also between maternal iron with maternal copper, and maternal iron with cord copper. The Chi-square analysis showed that there was a significant relationship between maternal copper deficiency and gestational hypertension (P<0.001). There were no significant relationships between these trace element levels at delivery with premature rupture of membranes and preterm labor. Logistic regression analysis showed a significant negative relationship between maternal copper levels and gestational hypertension (odds: 0.98, 95%CI: 0.97-0.99).

Conclusion: Maternal copper deficiency was rather high in the participants of the study (54.3%), and was related to incidence of gestational hypertension. These findings illustrated importance of trace elements during pregnancy. Providing suitable dietary recommendations and giving supplements during pregnancy can help to decrease maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity.