Pregnant women still smoking

Despite all the known health risks to their unborn baby, one in six women and one in two teenagers still smoke during pregnancy.

The figures published by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare show that of the women who gave birth in 2003, 17.3% reported having smoked during pregnancy.

The rate was highest among teenage mothers (42.1%), compared with 10.9% for mothers aged 35 or older. Among Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander mothers, 52.2% reported having smoked while pregnant.

Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of premature birth by 60%. It is also associated with low birth weight babies (less than 2,500 grams).

Figures for 2004 showed that almost 25% of all women aged 15 to 44 smoked.

Remember: Smoking increases the risk of the baby having high blood pressure, respiratory diseases, asthma attacks and ear infections. There is also a two-fold increase in the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2006 http://www.aihw.gov.au/mediacentre/2006/mr20060816.cfm