[Maternity leave and possible effects of working during pregnancy in 160 women].
Three years from the approval of the law safeguarding pregnant workers and the foetus (D.Lgs. 151/01), awareness of these provisions and management of pregnancy in relation to their job were assessed in 160 pregnant workers using a questionnaire. Respondents were 147 subjects, mean age 29.4 +/- 4.6 years, employed as blue-collar workers (n=26); white-collar workers (n =47); health workers (n=16); school workers (n=14); workers in shops (n=6); policewomen (n =3) housewives (n=25). Moreprovisions and most of them took advantage of maternal leave. Pre-term birth (16%) and low birth weight (9%) were the mostfrequent events. There were no neonatal diseases. Blue-collar, white-collar work and work in the home were not associated with pre-term births or low birth weight. Analysis based on the fathers' job characteristics did not yield significant associations either. Although the small size of our sample does not allow to draw firm conclusions, it is interesting to note that more than 10% of respondents were not aware of the provisions protecting workers' pregnancy.