Effect of Active Smoking During Pregnancy on Women and Newborn Health

Emre Yanikkerem,Semra Ay,Selda Lldan Çalim

doi:10.6000/1929-4247.2014.03.01.1

Abstract

The aim of the study was to identify the effect of prenatal smoking on mother and newborn health. The study was carried out in 700 women, who delivered at Merkez Efendi Maternity and Children’s Hospital between 1st January, 2011 and 31st December, 2011. Of the sample of women, 15.6% were current and 7.3% were quitting smokers. Women who continued smoking during pregnancy lived in households with husband who smoked and had higher rates of depressive symptoms and pregnancy included hypertension. Smoker women more likely reported to expose physical violence during pregnancy by their partner. Meconium in amniotic fluid was associated with women smoking status. Newborns who were exposed to tobacco smoke prenatally had deficits in weight (-186.6 gr), height (-0.9 cm) and head circumference at birth (-0.6 cm). In the study when women quit smoking during the first trimester, their infants have anthropometric measures similar to infants of nonsmokers. Smoking during pregnancy was related to low birth weight, height, and with small head circumference. Smoking cessation during pregnancy may have a greater impact on baby anthropometrics measures which were similar to infants of nonsmokers. To protect the health of their future unborn children, it would be optimal to target all women of reproductive age to quit smoking before they consider becoming pregnant.

Highlights

Smoking prevalence rates have been steadily increasing in developing countries, while the prevalence of smoking has been slowly declining in the developed countries over the past 20 years [1]
Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of harmful pregnancy outcomes, such as impaired fecundability, increased risk of pregnancy and prenatal period complications [10], premature rupture of membranes [11], placenta previa [12] abruption placenta [13] and preterm delivery [14]
The study data was limited to a cohort of in Manisa and smoking status was self reported the study provides important findings about effect of smoking during pregnancy

Summary

Introduction

Smoking prevalence rates have been steadily increasing in developing countries, while the prevalence of smoking has been slowly declining in the developed countries over the past 20 years [1]. Turkey Demographic and Health Survey (TDHS) in 2008 results show that 30% of ever-married women and 22% of women were currently smoking. This proportion for cigarette use among ever-married women has increased since the TDHS-2003 (28%). Considering maternity status, one in ten pregnant women currently smoke and 17% of women who are breastfeeding are currently using cigarette [9]. Active smoking is a big threat to the health of women, fetus and children. Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of harmful pregnancy outcomes, such as impaired fecundability, increased risk of pregnancy and prenatal period complications [10], premature rupture of membranes [11], placenta previa [12] abruption placenta [13] and preterm delivery [14]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion