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The relationship between asthma and smoking during pregnancy
J J Kurinczuk1, D E Parsons, V Dawes
1TVW Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Department of Public Health, University of Western Australia, West Perth, Australia. jennyk@ichr.uwa.edu.au
Women & Health
|August 31, 1999
Summary
Asthma affects 12.4% of pregnant women, with smoking prevalence at 22.7%. While asthmatic mothers were more likely to smoke, the difference wasn
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Pulmonology
- Public Health
Background:
- Asthma is a common and serious condition during pregnancy.
- Pregnancy asthma prevalence is estimated between 1% and 4%, lower than general population estimates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the prevalence of asthma and smoking in pregnant women.
- To examine the relationship between asthma and smoking during pregnancy.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional random sample survey of recently delivered Western Australian mothers in 1995.
- 82% of mothers responded to the survey.
Main Results:
- 21.3% of women reported a history of asthma, and 12.4% had current asthma.
- 22.7% of women smoked at some stage during pregnancy.
- Current asthmatics showed a trend towards higher smoking rates during pregnancy, but this was not statistically significant.
Conclusions:
- Asthma prevalence in pregnant women is consistent with general population estimates.
- Smoking cessation efforts are crucial for all women, especially those with asthma who are pregnant or planning pregnancy.