Prenatal and postnatal maternal smoking as risk factors for preschool children's mental health.
OBJECTIVE
To identify maternal prenatal and postnatal smoking as risk factors for psychosocial behaviour problems in Swedish preschool children.


METHODS
This prospective, longitudinal population study compared mothers' self-reported smoking during pregnancy and when the child was 3 mo old with behaviour problems according to Achenbach's Child Behavior Checklist at 3 y (1428 children) and 5.5 y of age (677 of the children).


RESULTS
16% of the mothers smoked during pregnancy and the same number after the birth of the child. Controlling for possible confounding variables, maternal smoking was significantly related to externalizing problems, aggressive behaviour, and destructive/delinquent behaviour both at 3 y and 5.5 y. The effect was as strong for girls as for boys. Length and weight were lower for children of smoking mothers than for children of non-smoking mothers.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study supports the importance of preventing maternal smoking during pregnancy and the infant years. Even a few cigarettes per day have negative consequences for the child. The goal must be total abstinence from smoking both pre- and postnatally.
Höök
Börje
B
Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. borje.hook@phs.ki.se
Cederblad
Marianne
M
Berg
Roland
R
D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*