Less women smoked cigarettes during pregnancy in 2022 than in 2016, according to a recent report by the CDC.1
Takeaways
- Overall, there has been a significant decrease in the rates of women smoking cigarettes during pregnancy from 2016 to 2022, with a notable decline from 7.2% to 3.7% across all pregnant women.
- The decline in smoking rates is evident across various race and ethnic groups. Non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic White, and non-Hispanic Black women all showed substantial reductions in smoking rates during pregnancy.
- While there is an overall improvement, disparities persist among different ethnic groups. For instance, non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native women still exhibit higher smoking rates during pregnancy compared to other groups.
- The information underscores the well-established health risks associated with smoking during pregnancy, including adverse outcomes for both mothers and infants.
- The reported decline in smoking during pregnancy is a positive trend with potential public health benefits. Reducing these rates can contribute to healthier pregnancies and improved outcomes for both mothers and infants.
The CDC recently released a report comparing rates of smoking cigarettes during pregnancy based on race and ethnicity for mothers in 2016 and 2022. A decrease in cigarette smoking was observed in all pregnant women between the 2 time periods, from 7.2% in 2016 to 3.7% in 2022.
Declines in smoking rates were observed across all race and ethnic groups. From 2016 to 2022, rates decreased from 16.7% to 11.0% among non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native women, from 10.5% to 5.4% among non-Hispanic White women, and from 6% to 3.1% among non-Hispanic Black women.
A decline from 4.5% to 2.1% was observed among non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander women, from 1.8% to 1% among Hispanic women, and from 0.6% to 0.3% among non-Hispanic Asian women.
Smoking during pregnancy is associated with maternal and fetal adverse outcomes.2 This includes a higher risk of being unable to become pregnant in the future, as well as potential tissue damage for the unborn baby, especially in the lungs and brain. Tobacco exposure has also been associated with an increased risk of miscarriage.
Other adverse infant outcomes have been reported from maternal smoking during pregnancy. Infants born of mothers who smoked during pregnancy are more likely to be born preterm, which increases risks of disease, disability, and death. Additionally, low birth weight has been reported in 1 in 5 babies of mothers exposed to secondhand smoke during pregnancy.
The risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is also increased in babies of mothers who smoked or were exposed to secondhand smoke during pregnancy. The risk of SIDS is increased 3-fold in babies of mothers who smoked during pregnancy.
Reference
- QuickStats: percentage of women who smoked cigarettes during pregnancy, by race and hispanic origin — National Vital Statistics System, United States, 2016 and 2022. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2023;72:1355. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7250a5
- Smoking during pregnancy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed December 15, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/health_effects/pregnancy/index.htm#:~:text=Smoking%20during%20pregnancy%20can%20cause,maternal%20smoking%20and%20cleft%20lip.&text=Studies%20also%20suggest%20a%20relationship%20between%20tobacco%20and%20miscarriage.
