BACKGROUND AND AIM The PROTECT Center seeks to understand the mechanisms by which exposure to mixtures of suspect chemicals contribute to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Having previously participated in the PROTECT, the participants are now contributing to the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) project. Within the ECHO study, the participants complete the Caregiver Occupation and Employment questionnaire which scrutinizes the context of occupational exposure during pregnancy, specifically focusing on the occupation and employment of their partner. Limited research has been conducted on the correlation of this particular subject. To identify detailed data on paternal occupation and employment in fields with high exposure risks through Section of the Caregiver Occupation and Employment questionnaire.

METHOD Pregnant participants were interviewed during pregnancy in relation to demographic characteristics and the occupation of the biological father of the child on the three months before pregnancy. Occupation of the father was categorized in 4 categories: manual, clerk and support workers, managers, and professional technician.

RESULTS A total of 327 pregnant participants answered questionnaires about the fetus’s biological father occupation. The median age of the fathers was 29 years, 58.6% had at least some college education, and 87% were married or cohabiting. In terms of occupation, most of the fathers worked in manual labor (66.7%).

CONCLUSIONS By knowing the occupation and work environment, preventive measures can be taken to reduce or eliminate potential occupational exposure risks during pregnancy. This may include environmental health education, workplace adjustments recommendations, possible changes in work tasks, use of appropriate personal protective equipment, among other measures, to ensure a safe work environment for the pregnant woman, baby, and partners. Also, assessing paternal work conditions and hazards enables a more comprehensive evaluation of parental exposures relevant to fertility, pregnancy, and child development in cohort studies.[¤]