Cigarette taxes and smoking during pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to estimate how changes in state cigarette excise taxes affect the smoking behavior of pregnant women.


METHODS
Detailed information about mothers and their pregnancy was used to examine the impact of taxes on the propensity of pregnant women to smoke. The 1989 to 1995 Natality Detail Files were used in conducting analyses to assess the impact of taxes on smoking among different subpopulations.


RESULTS
Higher cigarette excise taxes reduced smoking rates among pregnant women. A tax hike of $0.55 per pack would reduce maternal smoking by about 22%. Overall, a 10% increase in price would reduce smoking rates by 7%. Estimates for subpopulations suggested that nearly all would be very responsive to tax changes, including the subpopulations with the highest smoking rates.


CONCLUSIONS
Smoking rates among pregnant women are responsive to tax hikes.
Ringel
J S
JS
RAND Corp, Santa Monica, Calif, USA.
Evans
W N
WN
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008429:Maternal Welfare / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D011336:Probability; D011640:Public Policy; D012907:Smoking / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013660:Taxes / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology