The Relationship between Maternal Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure during Pregnancy with Anthropometric Parameters of the Newborn

Background and ObjectivesMaternal environmental tobacco smoke exposure (ETS) or passive smoking would be a risk factor for maternal and new born morbidity. This study was conducted to determine this relationship with in pregnant woman referring to Shabihkhani Maternity Hospital of kashan, Iran, during 2006-2007 MethodsThe study was carried out on 150 Nonsmoking pregnant women who were exposed to ETS greater than or equal to 5 cigarettes per day smoked by others in the mother's presence in all of pregnancy period as exposed group and 150 Nonsmoking pregnant women who were not exposed to ETS as the non-exposed group. Birth weight, height and head circumference were compared in the two groups and analyzed by t- and X2 tests.ResultsThe mean birth weights in the exposed group and non exposed group were and 3137.5±437.8 and 3270±499.5 grams respectively, the t- test showed this difference to be significant (p=0.015). The mean birth height and head circumference in the two groups were not significantly different.ConclusionNonsmoking pregnant women who were exposed to ETS gave 133 g reduction in birth weight compared to unexposed women. Further studies are needed to determine if ETS decreases birth height and birth head circumference Keywords: Birth Weight; Body Height; Birth Head Circumference; Tobacco Smoke Pollution; Pregnancy.