| Summary: | Background
Prenatal
s econdhand tobacco smoke (SHS) is a significant problem in Hungary's
four underdeveloped northeastern counties with a considerable ethnic Roma population.
There are 33.2% of non-smoker pregnant women exposed to SHS.
Methods
Data were collected among mothers delivered with live-born
babies 2009-2011 (N=16,859). The neonates' biometric parameters (birth weight,
body length, head and chest circumferences) were obtained from hospital records.
The response rate was 74.5%. We conducted binary logistic regression analysis
of maternal variables for SHS exposure, frequency analysis for central
tendencies and dispersion and t-probes for comparing the means of neonatal
measurements using significance level p < 0.05 (IBM-SPSS v. 23 software).
Results
In the non-smoking sample (n = 8,497), pregnant
women exposed to SHS were typically less educated (OR = 3.32, 95% CI =
2.64-4.18), of Roma ethnicity (OR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.36-2.15), living without
amenities (OR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.37-2.11) and of extramarital status (OR =
1.52, 95% CI = 1.27-1.82). The negative difference of birth weight following fetal
SHS exposure was 154.9 grams (95% CI = -188.5 - -121.3), the difference of body
length - 0.8 cm (95% CI = -1.06-0.6), and of head and chest circumference - 0.5
cm (95% CI = -0.6-0.3 and -0.7-03, respectively). Gestational age was shortened
by mean 0.4 week.
Conclusions
At-home
SHS exposure has a serious impact on biometric and obstetrical parameters of
newborn babies. The reduction of SHS exposure,
especially targeting the most vulnerable pregnant populations should be one of
the primary aims of smoking cessation public health programs.
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