THE EFFECT OF MATERNAL SMOKING ON ANTHROPOMETRIC MEASUREMENTS OF NEWBORNS

Abstract

Objective: This study included 1226 pregnant women who gave birth in our hospital's Department of Obstetrics and their newborns to evaluate the effects of maternal smoking on neonatal anthropometric measurements. Material and Method: Information about daily cigarette smoking patterns were collected by a questionnaire and the neonatal anthropometric measurements were recorded. The mothers with high risk pregnancies, multiple births and chronic diseases and the preterms, neonates with congenital anomalies and hospitalized neonates were excluded. Results: Of the 1226 women 940 (76.6%) never smoked; while 286 (23.4%) were smoker. Two hundred and five mothers smoking 1-5 cigarettes daily were classified as mild smokers, whereas 81 women smoking more than 5 cigarettes daily as heavy smoker. Eighty one heavy smokers constituted 28.3% of the 286 mothers who smoked and the 6.7% of the whole study population. There as no statistical difference between smokers and non-smokers regarding to socio-cultural and economic status. The average weight, height, chest and head circumference of children born from heavy smoker mother group was 160 gr, 0.65 cm, 0.38 cm and 0.28 cm smaller than the non-smoker group respectively. A statistically significant difference was found regarding height and weight, but not for head and chest circumference. Conclusion: It was found that as the number of cigarettes smoked increased by mother, especially the weight of the newborn decreased and the height also is adversely affected.