267270 Impact of Maternal Prenatal Smoking on the Development of Childhood Overweight in School Ages

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Liang Wang, MD, DrPH, MPH , Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN
Hadii M. Mamudu, PhD, MPA , Department of Health Services Management and Policy, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN
Tiejian Wu, MD, PhD , Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN
Childhood overweight (31.7% in 2008) and obesity (16.9% in 2008) has tripled in the U.S. over the past three decades to reach epidemic proportion. This study examined the long-term associations between maternal prenatal smoking and overweight among school-age children using data from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (SECCY). Childhood overweight was defined according to Body Mass Index (BMI) of 85th percentile or above. Mother's smoking patterns were assessed with a question on smoking behavior one year before the birth of the target child: never or ever smoking. Standardized procedures were used to measure height and weight for calculating the child's BMI. Descriptive statistics (proportions, mean, and standard deviation) and generalized estimation equation (GEE) were used for analysis. Children of mothers who were ever smokers one year before the birth were more likely to be overweight, and on average, to have higher BMI percentiles. GEE results showed that children of mothers who were ever smokers one year before the birth were more likely to have overweight (odds ratio (OR)=1.40, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01, 1.95) and higher BMI percentiles from grades one through six than those of mothers who were never smokers. The confirmed relationship between maternal prenatal smoking and overweight among school-age children has important implications for public health policy because this evidence can be used to enhance smoking cessation one year before the birth to improve the health status of mothers and offspring.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Biostatistics, economics
Chronic disease management and prevention
Epidemiology
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
To examine the long-term associations between maternal prenatal smoking and overweight among school-age children.

Keywords: Obesity, Smoking

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: This is my current research.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.