Smoking during pregnancy

Smoking during pregnancy is the leading cause of prenatal morbidity and some studies showed that prenatal exposure to tobacco smoke is a risk factor for respiratory infections, asthma, allergy, childhood cancer, and it has neurobehavioral consequences regarding children's health.The aims of our studies consist in the assessment of the demographic factors and to evaluate smoking behavior in a group of pregnant women smoking and nonsmoking. Data was collected with the use of a questionnaire, conceived by a primary pulmonologist that assessed multiple risks factors during pregnancy (applied by trained junior doctors under the supervision of qualified staff and was completed by all the participants after delivery). Demographic factors (marital status, education, income, occupation, alcohol consumption, number of pregnancy), maternal prenatal smoking behavior and prenatal complications in infant were assessed.When finding out that they are pregnant they either reduced the number of cigarettes (57%) or stopped smoking (16%). Nevertheless a significant percentage (27%) continued smoking during pregnancy. We found 10% premature birth, 6% of children had congenital malformations (hemangioma, pigmented nevi and hydrocele) and APGAR SCORE at 5 minute less 8 in 33% children.Tobacco dependence among pregnant women is a real public health problem and active anti-smoking counseling is required.
Source: European Respiratory Journal - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Tags: Tobacco, Smoking Control and Health Education Source Type: research