Influence of smoking in pregnant women on the health of the newborn in Poland

The effect of the mother's health behaviour during pregnancy on newborns was investigated during 2009-11 throughout Poland by trained staff from the SANEPID authorities. The questionnaire study was based on a Mother and Child Health Monitoring system, (PRAMS equivalent), representative of the country. This was completed by a total of n=9780 subjects on a single day per year, (approximately 3000 subjects/year), at least 3 days following birth in around 300 hospital obstetric wards. The selection of a particular day was made by the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate. Additionally, the healthcare staff directly concerned also filled in the relevant clinical details. Whenever birth complications occurred, (such as pathological or premature births, caesarean section, low birth weight, serious condition of mother/baby etc.), the survey was completed after recovery. The study was performed with full approval of hospital management and bioethical committees. Data was subsequently analysed by the Lublin Institute of Agricultural Medicine. Women that smoked demonstrated the following compared to non-smokers; lower newborn birth weight irrespective of the trimester when smoking, 2% more premature births, a worse general condition of the newborn according to APGAR rating and a more frequent delivery by caesarean section. Women smokers also more frequently miscarried. It is thereby vital that both girls and women receive appropriate education before the age of procreation as well as healthcare staff and the media on the harm caused by smoking to the newborn. The creation of a health advice centre network is now planned for women planning children including smoking cessation.