Evaluation of Smoking Among Pregnant Women in a Central Anatolian City of Turkey: Comparison with Other Countries

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the rate of smoking and perinatal outcomes of maternal smoking during pregnancy in a hospital-based study. Material and Methods: All cases recruited to the study were asked to respond to a series of questions in a face-to-face interview on the first day after delivery. Of the 830 subjects, 600 completed the questionnaire to determine the sociodemograpic features and smoking status. Babies were weighed by the researchers. Abortions, stillbirth, premature delivery, low birth weight, placental abruption, placenta previa, eclampsia, premature ruptures of the membrane were determined. Results: The mean age was 28.4 +/- 5.81 years. The rate of women who smoked at any time of their pregnancy was 7.3% (n=44). Compared to the babies born to mothers who did not smoke during pregnancy, babies born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy were 128.68 g lighter. When the findings of smoking mothers were compared to never smoking mothers, the rates of abortion (38.6% versus 29.3%), stillbirth (4.5%-2.7%), premature delivery (31.8%-19.1%), low birth weight (22.7%-18.2%), placental abruption (2.3%-1.6%), and preeclampsia (9.1%-8.6%) were higher (p>0.05). The rate of premature rupture of the membranes among smoker pregnant women was found significantly higher compared to never smokers (p<0.05). Conclusion: According to our findings, it is clear that smoking during pregnancy had adverse perinatal outcomes. Pregnant smokers should be encouraged to quit smoking. Counselling should be given by healthcare professionals at all times. In addition, the partners who smoke should be informed of the risks as well.