Passive maternal smoking and birthweight in a south Indian population.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects of passive maternal smoking on birthweight.


METHODS
Cohort of consecutive singleton live births.


METHODS
Teaching hospital in South India.


METHODS
994 infants and their mothers.


METHODS
Birthweight.


RESULTS
All the women were themselves non-smokers; 520 (52%) were passive smokers while the remainder were not exposed to tobacco smoke. Infants born to passive smokers were on the average 55 g lighter than those born to non-smokers. Passive smoking was associated with a decrease in birthweight of 63 g (95% CI 12-114 g) even after adjusting for other variables known to affect birthweight.
Mathai
M
M
Christian Medical College & Hospital, Vellore, India.
Vijayasri
R
R
Babu
S
S
Jeyaseelan
L
L
D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D011247:Pregnancy; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution