[Exposure to smoking during pregnancy: Barcelona (Spain) 1994-2001].
BACKGROUND
Exposure to smoking during pregnancy is an important risk factor for child health. In the last few decades, the prevalence of smoking among fertile women has increased in Spain.


OBJECTIVE
To assess fetal exposure to smoking in a representative sample of pregnant women and its trends.


METHODS
The prevalence of smoking and smoking cessation were analyzed in a representative sample of women who gave birth in the city of Barcelona, extracted from a population-based registry of birth defects. The sample consisted of 1,801 women and covered the period 1994 to 2001.


RESULTS
Among pregnant women, 43.4 % smoked before pregnancy, and 42.2 % of these quit. At the time of giving birth, 25.2 % of the women were smokers. Over the period studied the prevalence of smoking among pregnant women clearly decreased. Although the proportion of cessations showed no significant changes, fetal exposure to tobacco decreased.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of smoking among pregnant women was high, although many quit during pregnancy. Over the period studied, fetal exposure to smoking decreased. There is a need for more systematic interventions.
Salvador
J
J
Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona, Spain.
Villalbí
J R
JR
Nebot
M
M
Borrell
C
C
D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D013030:Spain