Maternal factors associated with smoking during gestation and consequences in newborns: results of an 18-year study

Abstract

Tobacco use is one of the most important causes of obstetric and perinatal pathologies. Its frequency during pregnancy is high and could be related to various socioeconomic and cultural characteristics of the mothers. The aim of this study is to determine the trend and prevalence of smoking in pregnant mothers in our area over the years and the socio-cultural or obstetric factors associated with smoking as well as the repercussions on the newborns related to its consumption. Retrospective study of 18,959 mothers of healthy newborns in the maternity ward of the regional hospital during the years 2002-2019. The variable under study was maternal smoking during pregnancy compared with various maternal, obstetric, and perinatal factors. A mean percentage of 20.4% of the mothers smoked, with significantly decreasing percentages over the years. There was a significant association between smoking and mothers' age, origin, level of education, the occurrence of previous abortions, parity, type of breastfeeding at discharge, type of delivery, low birth weight, and need for neonatal resuscitation. This defines a profile of pregnant smokers on whom it is important to act: young, Spanish, with a low level of education, multiparous, and with previous miscarriages. Its repercussions are also evident with a lower birth weight in newborns. Knowledge of these factors will make it possible to design more effective intervention strategies to reduce smoking during pregnancy. Any effort that reduces smoking habits can improve the health status of mothers and newborns and the first step is to know who are risk pregnants.