Smoking during pregnancy in Finland: determinants and trends, 1987-1997.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined determinants of and trends in smoking during pregnancy in Finland from 1987 through 1997.


METHODS
A repeated cross-sectional investigation of 694,926 women was conducted.


RESULTS
The prevalence of smoking during pregnancy remained similar from 1987 through 1997 (at 15%). In 1997, prevalences of smoking were alarmingly high among young (37%), single (30%), and less educated (25%) women and among women living in northern (20%) and eastern (19%) Finland. These determinants were persistent over time, with the exception of an increase in regional differences.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite increasing knowledge of adverse effects, smoking during pregnancy has not declined in Finland over the past decade.
Jaakkola
N
N
Environmental Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. jouni.jaakkola@nhv.se
Jaakkola
M S
MS
Gissler
M
M
Jaakkola
J J
JJ
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D017533:Marital Status / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012042:Registries; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000639:trends*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires