Cigarette smoking and adolescent pregnancy: double trouble

Article Abstract:

Daily cigarette smoking is more likely to be reported by girls who are high school seniors than by boys of the same age (20 versus 16 percent, respectively). In the 12- to 17-year-old age group, white teenagers are more likely than minority teenagers to smoke cigarettes. It is known that teenagers who engage in early and unprotected sex are more likely to smoke (cigarettes and marijuana) and to do poorly in school. This implies that a pregnant adolescent should be carefully screened for behaviors that put her and her fetus at risk. An article by Davis and colleagues published in the December 1990 issue of the American Journal of Diseases of Children reports on trends in smoking by adolescents during pregnancy. Their analysis showed a small but significant increase in smoking during pregnancy between 1984 (32 percent) and 1988 (37 percent). It was found that white pregnant girls were 1.5 times more likely to smoke than black pregnant girls, and five times more likely to smoke than Hispanic pregnant girls. There is a need to direct programs on preventing or stopping smoking to the pregnant teenagers. It is important to ask why teenage girls are at such high risk for starting to smoke, and to determine what approaches would be most helpful in decreasing the use of cigarettes. Potential approaches include targeting families where parents smoke; children from these families are known to be more likely to begin smoking. Appearance is important to teenagers; perhaps cigarette advertising has convinced the teenage girl that smoking enhances her image. Smoking education can be initiated when medical care is sought for contraception, pregnancy or psychological stress and depression. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Complications and side effects, Smoking and youth, Youth smoking, editorial

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Trends in teenage smoking during pregnancy: Washington state: 1984 through 1988

Article Abstract:

Although the percentage of people in the United States who smoke has decreased since the peak smoking rate in 1963, this trend is not as apparent in teenagers as in adults. This is especially true of teenage girls. Often, smoking during adolescence is associated with other behavior problems such as poor school performance, use of drugs, and increased sexual activity. Smoking during pregnancy is known to be a health hazard to the fetus. A study was undertaken to examine the cigarette smoking patterns of adolescents (aged 12 to 19) who gave birth in Washington State between 1984 and 1988. Information was obtained from birth certificates for the period; birth certificates contain a question on maternal smoking habits during pregnancy. There was a small, but significant, increase in maternal smoking during pregnancy from 1984 (32 percent) to 1988 (37 percent). White girls had the highest incidence of smoking behavior, while Native Americans showed the greatest increase in smoking rate over the time period studied. The incidence of smoking for unmarried girls was 42.8 percent, compared with 31.7 percent for married girls. One limitation of this study is that there was no way to distinguish girls who smoked throughout pregnancy from those who initially smoked but stopped during pregnancy. Based on results of other studies, it appears that pregnant teenagers in Washington had a much higher rate of smoking than their nonpregnant peers. These results do not show much progress toward meeting the Health Objectives for the Nation regarding smoking, among pregnant teens in Washington. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Statistics, Washington, Washington (State)

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First, do no harm: low birth weight and adolescent obesity

Article Abstract:

Recommendations that young, pregnant teenagers gain up to 16 kilograms (kg) to prevent having low-birth-weight infants may put the teenagers at risk for subsequent obesity. In 1990, the Institute of Medicine's Committee on Nutritional Status During Pregnancy and Lactation issued a report on the association between maternal nutrition and weight gain and the health of newborn infants. The report included recommendations that pregnant women gain between 11.5 and 16 kg, and that young teenagers should gain as much as possible within this range. However, studies have shown that women who gain excessive weight during pregnancy retain more weight after childbirth. Also, the incidence of teenage obesity has been increasing, especially among African American girls. Further study is needed on the relationship between weight gain in pregnancy and risk of obesity before greater weight gain is recommended.

Prevention, Causes of, Pregnant women, Birth weight, Low, Low birth weight, Weight gain, Obesity in adolescence, Adolescent obesity

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