A Geographical Bivariate Analysis of Smoking During Pregnancy and SIDS Deaths in Kentucky

Background: Smoking during pregnancy is over twice that of the nation in Kentucky, with 26.1 percent of women smoking during pregnancy in 2005. Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is also higher in Kentucky than the nation, at a rate of 1.1 deaths per 1,000 live births in Kentucky. Since 2000 in Kentucky, the risk of SIDS among mothers who smoked has ranged from 3 to 9 times that of mothers who did not smoke during pregnancy. This risk is magnified in some parts of the state, compared to others. Objective: To geographically analyze smoking during pregnancy and SIDS in Kentucky in one map in order to determine which areas have high, low, or varying levels of smoking during pregnancy and SIDS. Methods: Using vital statistics data from 2000 to 2005, the percentage of women who smoked during pregnancy and the rate of death from SIDS were used to produce a bivariate map of Kentucky counties. Smoking during pregnancy and SIDS were grouped into three levels for each indicator and combinations of each level were presented geographically. Results: A number of counties were found to have high smoking during pregnancy and SIDS rates, as well as low rates of both. Areas were also found to have varying levels of smoking during pregnancy and SIDS, however, no areas were found with the lowest level of smoking during pregnancy and the highest rate of SIDS. The information from this project will help us target interventions for SIDS and smoking cessation for pregnant women.