TABLE 1.
Characteristics of all 16 included studies
| Author, Year | Study Years | Country | Population | Sample Analyzed (total sample) | Exposures | Exposure assessment | Outcomes | Outcome assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Prospective cohort studies | ||||||||
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| Pedersen, 202123 | 2018–2018 | Denmark | General population sample | 910 (910) | Heavy lifting Standing, walking | Online questionnaire at 12 and 27 GW | Antenatal leave ≥14 days by 27 GW | Online questionnaire at 27 GW |
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| Safne, 201924 | 2011–2015 | Norway | General population sample | 716 (855) | Standing/walking | Questionnaire at 18–22 GW | Antenatal leave due to lumbopelvic pain | Questionnaire at 32–36 GW |
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| Hansen, 201525 | 1996–2002 | Denmark | Danish National Birth Cohort | 49,195 (49,708) | Lifting Sitting, standing, walking, mixed (standing and other), kneeling | Telephone interview at 17 GW (median) | Onset of the first episode of antenatal leave lasting >15 days occurring between 10 and 29 GW | National sick leave registry |
|
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| Larsen, 201326 | 1996–2002 | Denmark | Danish National Birth Cohort | 47,935 (91,386) | Lifting | Interview at 12–16 GW and JEM | Functionally limiting pelvic pain during pregnancy | Interview at 6 months postpartum |
|
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| Stomp-van den Berg, 201227 | 2004–2006 | The Netherlands | Mom@Work Study | 548(548) | Standing or mixed standing/sitting Uncomfortable posture | Postal questionnaire at 30 GW (mean) | Pelvic girdle pain at 12 weeks postpartum | Postal questionnaire at 12 weeks postpartum with localized pain intensity registered on an 11-point scale, ranging from 0 (none) to 11 (much pain) |
|
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| Kristensen, 200828 | 1999–2005 | Norway | Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) | 28,611 (64 136) | Turning and bending | Questionnaire at 17 GW | Work absence >2 weeks between GW 17 and 30 | Questionnaire at 30 GW |
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| To, 200329 | NR | China | General population sample | 254 (326) | Static posture Standing >4 h/day Walking >4 h/day | Questionnaire between 28 GW and delivery | Back pain symptoms in pregnancy | Questionnaire within 3 days postnatal |
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| Larsen, 199930 | NR | Denmark | General population sample | 1,516 (1,516) | Lifting Uncomfortable posture | Questionnaire at 16 GW | Functionally limiting pelvic pain from 16 to 40 GW | Screening for functional pelvic pain at GW 16, 20, 30, 33, 38, 40; when screening criteria met, rheumatologist exam performed |
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| Retrospective cohort studies | ||||||||
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| Wallace, 201331 | 2003–2005 | France | EDEN Mother-Child Cohort Study | 1,196 (1,196) | Standing | Questionnaire during pregnancy (GW NR) | Return to work within one year after delivery | Questionnaires at 4, 8 and 12 months postpartum |
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| Kaerlev, 200432 | 1995–1999 | Denmark | Healthcare sector | 655 (773) | Heavy lifting Standing Walking Uncomfortable posture | Questionnaire at postpartum plus exposure imputation | Length and onset of antenatal leave >10% of work time | Hospital roster and linkage to the national birth registry for births during study period |
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| Strand, 199733 | 1989 | Norway | Pregnancy and Work Survey | 2,693 (5,438) | Lifting Hands above shoulder Bend and twist | Questionnaire at delivery | Certified sick leave occurring >3 or >8 weeks before delivery | Questionnaire at delivery |
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| Nested case-control studies | ||||||||
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| Guendelman, 201634 | 2002–2003 | United States | Juggling Work and Life During Pregnancy | 1,114 (1,114) | Heavy lifting Bending at the waist Standing | Telephone interview a median of 4.5 months PP | Employment withdrawal defined as a composite measure of antenatal leave, quitting work, or being fired while pregnant | Telephone interview a median 4.5 months postpartum |
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| Juhl M, 200535 | 2000–2001 | Denmark | Danish National Birth Cohort | 2,758 (3,589) | Lifting Sitting Standing, walking | Interview at 12 to 16 GW | Functional pelvic pain occurring during pregnancy or after delivery | Interview conducted 6 months postpartum |
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| Cross-sectional studies | ||||||||
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| Caputo, 202136 | 2015 | Brazil | Pelotas Birth Cohort Study | 2,114 (3,827) | Heavy lifting Standing | In-person interview at delivery | Low back pain during pregnancy | In-person interview at 12 months postpartum |
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| Cheng, 200937 | NR | Canada | General population sample | 43 (73) | Sitting Standing | Interviewer-administered questionnaire at 20 and 34 GW | Functionally limiting back pain during pregnancy | Oswestry disability questionnaire at 20 and 34 GW |
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| Endresen, 199538 | 1989 | Norway | General population sample | 3,789 (5215) | Lifting Standing, walking Bending forward Twist and bend Work above shoulder | Questionnaire at delivery | Low back pain during pregnancy; pelvic pain first onset during pregnancy and severity | Questionnaire at delivery |
GW, gestational weeks; JEM, job exposure matrix; NR, not reported.