Title: Smoking during pregnancy: an association with low birth weight infants.

POPLINE Document Number: 277025

Author(s):

Elghannam MA
Nabhan AF
Khairy HT
Bahgat FA

Source citation:

Egyptian Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1999 Jan-Mar;25(1-3):101-108.

Abstract:

Objective: To evaluate the association between smoking during pregnancy and preterm birth and birth weight deficits. Study Design: In this study, two hundred women in spontaneous labor were randomly selected Tobacco exposure was assessed from maternal serum samples and from umbilical serum samples obtained at delivery, by measuring the concentration of nicotine metabolite, cotinine. The main outcome measures were gestational age and birth weight. Results: cotinine (>6 µgL/l was detected in either maternal or umbilical serum in 49 pregnancies, and these mothers and newborns were classified as exposed. Tobacco exposure was associated with shorter gestational age and reduced birth weight of the newborns. After correction for parity, gender, and gestational age, the exposed newborns were on average 188 grams (95% confidence interval ((CI) 123- 253 grams) lighter than the nonexposed newborns. Conclusions: Smoking increases the risk of preterm birth and birth weight deficits. There is a quantitative dose and effect relation between tobacco exposure and a decrease in the gestational age and weight at birth. (author's)

Keywords:

Egypt
Research Report
Clinical Research
Pregnant Women
Women in Development
Tobacco Use and Abuse
Low Birth Weight
Premature Birth
Laboratory Examinations and Diagnoses
Gestational Age
Administration and Dosage
Africa, Northern
Africa
Developing Countries
Research Methodology
Population Characteristics
Demographic Factors
Population
Economic Development
Economic Factors
Behavior
Birth Weight
Body Weight
Physiology
Biology
Pregnancy Outcomes
Pregnancy
Reproduction
Examinations and Diagnoses
Fetus
Drugs
Treatment