English summary: PREVALENCE OF SMOKING HIGHER AMONG MOTHERS OF PREMATURE INFANTS

Background

The prevalence of smoking is three times higher in mothers of premature infants compared to mothers of full-term infants.

We examined whether smoking or alcohol use differed in mothers of premature infants and in mothers of full-term infants. In addition, we studied the impact of foetal exposure to smoking or alcohol on the children's development.

Methods

The study included all infants with birth weight <= 1500 g or a gestational age <32 weeks who were born at Turku University Central Hospital in 2001-06 (n = 233) and a control group of healthy term infants (n = 199).

Results

Mothers who smoked during pregnancy gave birth to premature infants more often than non-smokers (OR = 3.1, 95% CI 1.6, 6.1). 18.0% of the mothers of premature infants and 7.0% of the mothers of fullterm infants smoked during pregnancy (p < 0.001). A total of 8.2% and 6.0%, respectively, used alcohol during pregnancy (n.s.). Exposure to alcohol was associated with a smaller head circumference at 2 years of corrected age in premature infants. No association was found between tobacco/alcohol exposure and the developmental level of the children at 2 years of age. Prenatal interviews found only 1 out of 29 alcohol exposures revealed by later interviews.

Conclusions

Mothers who smoked were more prone to give birth to a premature infant than non-smokers. Exposure to alcohol was associated with a smaller head circumference at two years of corrected age in premature infants. Prenatal interview about exposure to alcohol during pregnancy should be improved.