PREGNANCY OUTCOME IN MILITARY AND CIVILIAN WOMEN

Physical and medical risk factors have long been linked to prematurity and intrauterine growth retardation. Recently, out-of-home employment has been cited as an additional risk. The primary objective of this investigation was to compare pregnancy risks and birth outcome in two groups of employed women (one military and one civilian). We performed a prenatal survey and a postpartum chart review and found that active duty military women worked longer into pregnancy and reported lower levels of social support than their civilian counterparts. However, infant weight and gestational age were not significantly different in the two groups.