Exploring Associations Between Employment History and Risk of Adverse Reproductive Health Outcomes

Abstract

There is an increasing prevalence of adverse reproductive health outcomes, such as infertility and abortive outcomes in Canada and the United States. While risk factors are attributed to biopsychosocial determinants, there is a growing concern about the role of occupation as a risk factor. With more women entering the workforce, particularly in manual occupations, they are exposed to various occupational hazards that affect their reproductive health. This thesis aims to provide an overview of industry as an etiological risk factor for these outcomes through two studies using a population-based cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013-2014 cycle. The findings revealed that women employed in specialized industrial sectors are more likely to experience adverse reproductive health outcomes. These findings highlight the impact of workplace hazards on women's health, thus emphasizing the need for future research to investigate exposures in these sectors that contribute to adverse reproductive health outcomes.