Objective: We analyzed the association between fetal death from congenital anomalies and paternal agricultural occupation in mothers who were employed and in housewives.
Materials and methods: The data consist of individual records from the Spanish Birth Register (1995-1999).
Results: The adjusted relative risk of fetal death in agricultural workers compared with nonagricultural was 1.24 (95% confidence interval = 0.38- 4.02) in mothers who were employed and 1.68 (95% confidence interval = 1.03-2.73) in housewives.
Conclusion: The risk of fetal death in the offspring of agricultural workers exposed to pesticides around the time of conception was higher than in the offspring of nonagricultural workers in mothers who were housewives but not in mothers who worked outside the home.