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Passive smoking in utero: no objective morphogenetic changes in the neonate
Acta Paediatrica Hungarica
|January 1, 1990
Summary
This study found no significant differences in minor fetal morphogenetic or anthropometric variants between infants born to mothers who smoked heavily during pregnancy and those born to non-smokers.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Fetal Development
- Public Health
Background:
- Maternal smoking during pregnancy is a known risk factor for adverse birth outcomes.
- The impact of heavy smoking on minor fetal variations requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between heavy maternal smoking during pregnancy and minor fetal morphogenetic and anthropometric variants.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study design was employed.
- Sixty infants of mothers smoking >20 cigarettes/day during pregnancy were matched with 120 infants of non-smoking mothers.
- Prevalence of 54 morphogenetic variants and 31 anthropometric measurements were compared.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant differences were observed in the prevalence of 54 morphogenetic variants between the smoking and non-smoking groups.
- No significant differences were found in 31 anthropometric measurements and indices between the two groups.
Conclusions:
- Heavy maternal smoking (>20 cigarettes/day) during pregnancy did not appear to be associated with an increased prevalence of minor fetal morphogenetic or anthropometric variants in this study population.
