Background: Smoking rates remain high among certain subgroups and in some regions of the nation. Detailed information is necessary to address these issues. The purpose of this presentation is to introduce the State Prenatal Smoking Databook, 1998. This publication fills the gap in available national and state data on the prevalence of smoking during pregnancy, its effect on health outcomes/infant costs, and state policies and programs.
Methods: Data from two sources, the birth certificate and the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) will be used to present the national and state prevalence of smoking during pregnancy. Additional information by state will include the smoking attributable infant mortality due to SIDS, neonatal costs due to smoking, state cigarette tax and regulatory policies, information on WIC and Medicaid programs, and public health programs to reduce smoking during pregnancy.
Results: Smoking during pregnancy is strongly related to the educational and racial/ethnic background of the mother. The smoking rates are highest among non-Hispanic white women (44.4%) and non-Hispanic black women (29.5%) with less than a high school education, and lowest among Hispanic (2.3%) and Asian (1.1%) women with greater than a high school education. There is a wide range in the smoking prevalence across all of the states and the District of Columbia (4.8% to 25.6%).
Conclusions: This data will provide national and state policy makers and health professionals data not previously available that can be used to inform decisions, evaluate programs, and aid in the advocacy of programs specific to this vulnerable population.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to: 1. Understand the current national prevalence and trends in prenatal smoking. 2. Know what detailed state information is provided in the databook on the health impacts due to smoking during pregnancy, and the state policy and programs related to maternal and child health. 3. Access the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Division of Reproductive Health website containing the national and detailed state information.
Keywords: Smoking, Pregnancy
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/ Division of Reproductive Health