The evaluation of a health education campaign on the use of leave from work during pregnancy
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Italian Protective Maternity Legislation allows a woman to apply for early maternity leave from work during pregnancy if she is affected by health problems (option A) or if her working conditions are incompatible with pregnancy (...
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| Format: | Article |
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BMC
2010-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/10/694 |
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| author | Agnesi R Roberto Agostini Ornella Fadda Emanuela Lange John H Mastrangelo Giuseppe Bardin Andrea Cegolon Luca |
| author_facet | Agnesi R Roberto Agostini Ornella Fadda Emanuela Lange John H Mastrangelo Giuseppe Bardin Andrea Cegolon Luca |
| author_sort | Agnesi R Roberto |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Italian Protective Maternity Legislation allows a woman to apply for early maternity leave from work during pregnancy if she is affected by health problems (option A) or if her working conditions are incompatible with pregnancy (option B). A community based health education program, implemented between 1995 to 1998 in North Eastern Italy, provided counseling (by a team of gynecologists, pediatricians, geneticists, psychologists and occupational physicians), and an information leaflet detailing the risks during pregnancy and the governmental benefits available to expectant mothers. This leaflet was distributed to women who were under occupational medical surveillance and to women attending any healthcare office and outpatient department and was also mailed to women working at home as shoemakers.</p> <p>The effectiveness of this intervention has been evaluated in this investigation using an evidence based approach.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A quasi-experimental design was adopted, applying several outcome measurements before (1989 to 1994) and after (1999 to 2005) the intervention. The outcome (ratio B/A) is the number of women receiving approval for B (circumstance where the pregnant woman is employed to undertake activities forbidden under the Article 7 of Law 151/2001, and it is impossible to change her duties) to those receiving approval for A (risky pregnancy due to personal medical conditions, Article 17 of the same Law). A linear regression coefficient (for B/A against years) was obtained separately for time periods "before" (1989-94) and "after" (1999-2005) the intervention program. The two regression coefficients were compared using a t-test.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The trend over-time for the ratio B/A was steady before the initial intervention (y = 0.008x - 16.087; t = 2.09; p > 0.05) then increased considerably (y = 0.0426x - 84.89; t = 19.55; p < 0.001) in coincidence with the start of the education campaign. There was a significant difference between the two regression coefficients (t = 7.58; p < 0.001).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>From a bureaucratic perspective Option B is far more complicated than A. In fact it implies an active approach involving an arrangement between the claimant and the employer, who has to certify to the relevant Authority that the woman's working conditions are incompatible with pregnancy. The increasing number of women availing of option B, as recommended, therefore suggests the suitability of such educational campaign(s).</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T03:23:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-59a08c2551d648e297400bbb6ae4d112 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T03:23:52Z |
| publishDate | 2010-11-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-59a08c2551d648e297400bbb6ae4d1122022-12-22T03:04:42ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582010-11-0110169410.1186/1471-2458-10-694The evaluation of a health education campaign on the use of leave from work during pregnancyAgnesi R RobertoAgostini OrnellaFadda EmanuelaLange John HMastrangelo GiuseppeBardin AndreaCegolon Luca<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Italian Protective Maternity Legislation allows a woman to apply for early maternity leave from work during pregnancy if she is affected by health problems (option A) or if her working conditions are incompatible with pregnancy (option B). A community based health education program, implemented between 1995 to 1998 in North Eastern Italy, provided counseling (by a team of gynecologists, pediatricians, geneticists, psychologists and occupational physicians), and an information leaflet detailing the risks during pregnancy and the governmental benefits available to expectant mothers. This leaflet was distributed to women who were under occupational medical surveillance and to women attending any healthcare office and outpatient department and was also mailed to women working at home as shoemakers.</p> <p>The effectiveness of this intervention has been evaluated in this investigation using an evidence based approach.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A quasi-experimental design was adopted, applying several outcome measurements before (1989 to 1994) and after (1999 to 2005) the intervention. The outcome (ratio B/A) is the number of women receiving approval for B (circumstance where the pregnant woman is employed to undertake activities forbidden under the Article 7 of Law 151/2001, and it is impossible to change her duties) to those receiving approval for A (risky pregnancy due to personal medical conditions, Article 17 of the same Law). A linear regression coefficient (for B/A against years) was obtained separately for time periods "before" (1989-94) and "after" (1999-2005) the intervention program. The two regression coefficients were compared using a t-test.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The trend over-time for the ratio B/A was steady before the initial intervention (y = 0.008x - 16.087; t = 2.09; p > 0.05) then increased considerably (y = 0.0426x - 84.89; t = 19.55; p < 0.001) in coincidence with the start of the education campaign. There was a significant difference between the two regression coefficients (t = 7.58; p < 0.001).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>From a bureaucratic perspective Option B is far more complicated than A. In fact it implies an active approach involving an arrangement between the claimant and the employer, who has to certify to the relevant Authority that the woman's working conditions are incompatible with pregnancy. The increasing number of women availing of option B, as recommended, therefore suggests the suitability of such educational campaign(s).</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/10/694 |
| spellingShingle | Agnesi R Roberto Agostini Ornella Fadda Emanuela Lange John H Mastrangelo Giuseppe Bardin Andrea Cegolon Luca The evaluation of a health education campaign on the use of leave from work during pregnancy BMC Public Health |
| title | The evaluation of a health education campaign on the use of leave from work during pregnancy |
| title_full | The evaluation of a health education campaign on the use of leave from work during pregnancy |
| title_fullStr | The evaluation of a health education campaign on the use of leave from work during pregnancy |
| title_full_unstemmed | The evaluation of a health education campaign on the use of leave from work during pregnancy |
| title_short | The evaluation of a health education campaign on the use of leave from work during pregnancy |
| title_sort | evaluation of a health education campaign on the use of leave from work during pregnancy |
| url | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/10/694 |
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