Common Pregnancy Complaints Can Lead to Motor Vehicle Collisions or Near-Miss Incidents

Abstract

Pregnant women commonly report various health complaints during pregnancy, the occurrence of which is believed to cause human error. However, no study has examined the relationship between the occurrence of pregnancy complaints and the risk of motor vehicle collisions (MVCs). This study aimed to clarify the relationship between the frequency and severity of common pregnancy complaints and the occurrence of MVCs or near-miss incidents. We conducted a multicenter cross-sectional survey of 1000 pregnant women in Shiga Prefecture, Japan. The event group experiencing MVCs or near-miss incidents during pregnancy comprised 10.8% of respondents. The frequency of compression of the stomach or abdomen, tension and cramps in the lower abdomen, pelvic pain, irritability, depressed mood, distractedness, and hot flashes was significantly higher in the event group. The results of our multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that tension and cramps in the lower abdomen, distractedness, and irritability were independent contributory factors to such events, with an odds ratio of 2.414, 1.849, and 1.746, respectively. Educating pregnant women to avoid driving when experiencing these symptoms would improve maternal and fetal safety.