Effect of secondhand smoke exposure during pregnancy on anthropometric measurements of term infants

A Yawe Amal Swidan, Rawand

	Effect of secondhand smoke exposure during pregnancy on anthropometric measurements of term infants
IRAQI JOURNALOF COMMUNITY MEDICINE
Article 1, Volume 28, Issue 1, 2015, Pages 49-55
Author
Rawand A Yawe Amal Swidan
Abstract
Background: Similar to smoking during pregnancy, a pregnant woman's exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) affects many aspects of fetal development, from conception to birth. It increases the risk of having a low birth weight baby and premature delivery. Objective: To evaluate the effect of exposure to secondhand smoke during pregnancy on newborns' anthropometric measurements (birth weight, length and head circumference). Methods: A Retrospective cohort study was conducted in Baghdad, Iraq between first of December2013 to the first of May 2014 on a purposive non-random sample of 620 non-smoker mothers, interviewed within 24 hours after delivery and included two groups, first group included 310 non-smoker mothers who were not exposed to secondhand smoke and the second group included 310 non-smoker mothers who had history of such exposure. Results: The mean birth weight of infants born to mothers who were exposed to secondhand smoke (2.912±0.421) was significantly lower than infants of non-exposed women (3.010±0.411) (P=0.004). The mean head circumference of the infants of exposed mothers was smaller and length was shorter than that of infants of non-exposed mothers. The incidence of low birth weight (LBW) was higher in exposed women (15.8%) compared to non-exposed women (8.1%) (P=0.025; RR= 1.95). Conclusion: The study found a significant association between secondhand smoke exposure during pregnancy and decreased birth weight.
Keywords
Secondhand smoke; prenatal exposure; Low birth weight; neonatal length; head circumference

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