The relationship of gestational smoking with pregnancy complications and sociodemographic characteristics of mothers.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to assess the relationship of gestational smoking and passive smoking with pregnancy complications like preterm delivery, low birthweight, early membrane rupture, abruptio placentae, fetal distress and preeclampsia. We also analyzed the sociodemographic features of mothers who smoked during their pregnancy.

Material And Methods: Pregnant women have been questionned for their habits of smoking and household members' usage of tobacco products during their antenatal visits. Perinatal outcome of gestational smoking was assessed by the type of the delivery, birthweight, occurrence of preeclampsia, early membrane rupture and fetal distress during pregnancy. Differences in group means were analyzed with the Fisher's exact test, Chi-square test and ANOVA.

Results: There wasn't any significant statistical difference between the smokers' (n=86), passive smokers' (n=118) and nonsmokers' (n=77) groups in terms of maternal age, socioeconomic status of the family, gestational age, Apgar scoring and the rate of delivery by cesearian section. However, gestational smoking was found to be more common in mothers with poor or none education (p=0.001). There wasn't any significant statistical change in the rates of fetal distress, early membrane rupture, abruptio placentae and preeclampsia by gestational smoking (p>0.05). But, infants of mothers who smoked more than 10 cigarettes per day showed statistically significant birthweight deficits (p<0.05).

Conclusions: Data from this study indicate that gestational smoking is more common among women with low education and results in low birthweight. Therefore, it is essantial to educate the women before pregnancy and implement new smoking cessation programs for pregnancy.