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Is maternal smoking during early pregnancy a risk factor for all low birth weight infants?

Kohta Suzuki1, Taichiro Tanaka, Naoki Kondo

  • 1Department of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Japan.

Journal of Epidemiology
|May 13, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Maternal smoking during early pregnancy is linked to low birth weight (LBW) with small for gestational age (SGA) and full-term birth. Other factors may contribute to LBW with appropriate weight for gestational age (AGA) or preterm birth.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Neonatal Health
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Low birth weight (LBW) is not a single condition, encompassing prematurity and poor fetal growth (small for gestational age - SGA).
  • Understanding the specific impact of maternal smoking on different LBW subtypes is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between maternal smoking during pregnancy and the outcomes of SGA and preterm LBW infants.
  • To differentiate the risk factors contributing to various forms of LBW.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort study of pregnant women and their children in Koshu City from 1995-2000.
  • Multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to assess the relationship between maternal smoking and SGA/preterm LBW.

Main Results:

  • Maternal smoking in early pregnancy was associated with LBW infants exhibiting SGA and those born full-term.
  • Smoking was identified as a risk factor for LBW with SGA and LBW with full-term birth.
  • Maternal smoking was not found to be a risk factor for LBW with appropriate weight for gestational age (AGA) or LBW with preterm birth.

Conclusions:

  • LBW with AGA and LBW with preterm birth may be linked to unexamined factors like periodontal disease.
  • Preventing LBW requires comprehensive strategies beyond smoking cessation, including clinical setting improvements.
Abstract

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