Smoking prevalence among pregnant women from 2007 to 2012 at a tertiary-care hospital

Prevalence of tobacco use and associated risk factors among pregnant women in Maracha District, Uganda

Globally, tobacco use has become the largest public health threat that kills around 7 million people annually, of which about 6 million deaths are due to direct tobacco use, and 890,000 are attributed to passive smoking. This study assessed prevalence and associated risk factors of tobacco use among pregnant women, 15 to 49 years. Health facility-based analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 199 pregnant women using purposive sampling technique and convenient sampling technique for the respondents. Chi-square test and binary logistic regression were used to compare quantitative data at a 95% CI. Prevalence of tobacco use among respondents was 39.2%. The results gives those who starting to smoke at more than 30 years (p≤0.001), agreeing that smoking makes pregnant women feel they have total control over their health and life (p≤0.008); the likelihood of tobacco use reduced among pregnant women aged 20-29 years (p≤0.032), those disagreeing that tobacco use as a sign of maturity (p≤0.003) and disagreeing that smoking can help calm nerves, control moods, and alleviates stress (p≤0.002). However, cultural factors that reduced the chances of smoking in pregnancy include smoking more than five times a day (p≤0.01) and smoking cigarettes (p≤0.017), were statistically associated with smoking. High prevalence of tobacco use among pregnant women in Kijomoro and Eliofe health center III was recorded. Thus, there is need to sensitize pregnant women about tobacco-related health problems on them and their unborn children.

A single-center, prospective, observational study on maternal smoking during pregnancy in Greece: The HELENA study

INTRODUCTION

The unequivocal association between exposure to smoke and numerous complications of pregnancy, demonstrated in the last decades, has led to a significant decrease of smoking rates in pregnancy. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of maternal smoking and to elucidate factors predisposing to it among pregnant women in Athens, Greece.

METHODS

A population of 1700 pregnant women (mean age: 31.2±5.5 years) who visited consecutively the Cardiology Department of Helena Venizelou Maternity Hospital in Athens, Greece, between September 2016 and August 2017, was prospectively analyzed. Data regarding changes in the future mother’s smoking habit as well as different sociodemographic factors potentially related to these changes were recorded.

RESULTS

Of the 1700 participants, 704 (41.4%) were smokers, and of those 52.4% quit smoking after knowledge of their pregnancy status. The overall prevalence of smoking in pregnancy was 19.7%. Prevalence was higher in women who were aged <20 years (p=0.038), were multipara (p=0.032), had ≤12 years of education (p=0.044) and had a partner who was a smoker (p=0.047). Women aged ≤20 years were more likely to be persistent smokers at the beginning of pregnancy and demonstrated a higher prevalence of smoking during pregnancy (42.2% vs 19.7% in the overall study population).

CONCLUSIONS

Our data demonstrate that maternal smoking during pregnancy still remains a major public health issue in Greece with a prevalence higher than most other industrialized countries.

National, regional, and global prevalence of cigarette smoking among women/females in the general population: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

This systematic and meta-analysis review aimed to provide an updated estimate of the prevalence of ever and current cigarette smoking in women, in geographic areas worldwide, and demonstrate a trend of the prevalence of smoking over time by using a cumulative meta-analysis.

Methods

Following PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies published on the prevalence of ever and current cigarette smoking in women. We searched PubMed, Web of Science (ISI), Scopus, and Ovid from January 2010 to April 2020. The reference lists of the studies included in this review were also screened. Data were reviewed and extracted independently by two authors. A random effects model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence of ever and current cigarette smoking in women. Sources of heterogeneity among the studies were determined using subgroup analysis and meta-regression.

Results

The pooled prevalence of ever and current cigarette smoking in women was 28% and 17%, respectively. The pooled prevalence of ever cigarette smoking in adolescent girls/students of the school, adult women, pregnant women, and women with the disease was 23%, 27%, 32%, and 38%, respectively. The pooled prevalence of ever cigarette smoking in the continents of Oceania, Asia, Europe, America, and Africa was 36%, 14%, 38%, 31%, and 32%, respectively.

Conclusions

The prevalence of cigarette smoking among women is very high, which is significant in all subgroups of adolescents, adults, and pregnant women. Therefore, it is necessary to design and implement appropriate educational programs for them, especially in schools, to reduce the side effects and prevalence of smoking among women.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12199-020-00924-y.

Health products' and substance use among pregnant women visiting a tertiary hospital in Belgium: A cross-sectional study

PURPOSE

To investigate the prevalence and type of health products used among pregnant women visiting a tertiary hospital in Belgium, as well as who advises these products, where women buy these products, which determinants are associated with medication and pregnancy vitamin intake, and preconception lifestyle changes such as folic acid intake and substance use.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was performed at the outpatient obstetrics clinics of the University Hospital Leuven, Belgium between November 2016 and March 2017. All pregnant women 18 years and older and understanding Dutch, French, or English were asked to participate in an online survey.

RESULTS

In total, 379 pregnant women participated. Prevalence of medication use during the preceding week was 52%. Paracetamol (14%), levothyroxine (13%), and antacids (9%) were the most frequently used medicines. Pregnancy vitamins were used by 86% of women, and 97% had used a pregnancy vitamin somewhere during pregnancy. Only 56% initiated folic acid supplementation at least 1 month before pregnancy. Preconception use of folic acid among women following assisted reproductive technology was 73%. Inappropriate use of health products was observed among 3% of women. Prevalence of alcohol use and/or smoking during the preceding week was 6%. Alcohol and smoking cessation mainly occurred after pregnancy diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

Pregnant women living in Belgium frequently use medicines, pregnancy vitamins, and other health products. Preconception lifestyle changes such as folic acid intake and alcohol and smoking cessation are poorly implemented. Public campaigns and interventions are needed to improve preconception care and counselling.