Is smoking in pregnancy interrelated between generations?

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Public Health
• Genetics

Background:

• Smoking during pregnancy is a significant public health concern with potential intergenerational effects.
• Understanding factors influencing persistent smoking habits across generations is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between maternal smoking during pregnancy in one generation and smoking habits in their daughters during subsequent pregnancies.
• To explore potential biological or environmental mechanisms underlying intergenerational transmission of smoking behaviors.

Main Methods:

• Utilized prospective questionnaire data from first-generation births (1964-67) and linked it with the Swedish Medical Birth Registry for second-generation births (n=1659).
• Employed the Mantel-Haenszel method for confounder adjustment and stratified analysis to assess the odds ratio of maternal smoking across generations.
• Analyzed trends in maternal smoking prevalence in two parturient cohorts separated by 30 years.

Main Results:

• Maternal smoking in the first generation was associated with a significantly increased, approximately doubled, odds ratio for pregnancy smoking among daughters.
• This association remained consistent after stratification for social environment index and educational level, suggesting a robust link.
• A comparative analysis showed a greater decrease in maternal smoking prevalence among younger women compared to older women over a 30-year period.

Conclusions:

• The study provides evidence suggesting a biological association in pregnancy smoking habits transmitted across generations.
• Further research into causative mechanisms is recommended to develop more effective smoking cessation programs.
• Observed trends indicate a positive shift with decreasing smoking prevalence among younger parturient women.