title: Tobacco use in pregnant women: analysis of data from Demographic and Health Surveys from 54 low-income and middle-income countries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Worldwide, use of tobacco is viewed as an important threat to the health of pregnant women and their children. However, the extent of tobacco use in pregnant women in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) remains unclear. We assessed the magnitude of tobacco use in pregnant women in LMICs.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used data from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) done in 54 LMICs between Jan 1, 2001, and Dec 1, 2012, comprising 58 922 pregnant women (aged 15-49 years), which were grouped by WHO region. Prevalence of current tobacco use (smoked and smokeless) was estimated for every country. Pooled estimates by regions and overall were obtained from random-effects meta-analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pooled prevalence of any tobacco use in pregnant women in LMICs was 2·6% (95% CI 1·8-3·6); the lowest prevalence was in the African region (2·0%, 1·2-2·9) and the highest was in the Southeast Asian region (5·1%, 1·3-10·9). The pooled prevalence of current tobacco smoking in pregnant women ranged from 0·6% (0·3-0·8) in the African region to 3·5% (1·5-12·1) in the Western Pacific region. The pooled prevalence of current smokeless tobacco use in pregnant women was lowest in the European region (0·1%, 0·0-0·3) and highest in the Southeast Asian region (2·6%, 0·0-7·6).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, tobacco use in pregnant women in LMICs was low; however high prevalence estimates were noted in some LMICs. Prevention and management of tobacco use and exposure to second-hand smoke in pregnancy is crucial to protect maternal and child health in LMICs.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  None.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health and Quality of Life, Port Louis, Mauritius; Department of Health Policy and Management, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, NY, USA. Electronic address: r.caleyachetty@icloud.com.
authors.forename: Rishi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Caleyachetty
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Tait
authors.affiliation: South African Medical Research Council and University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Andre P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Kengne
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Chile, Santiago de Chile, Chile.
authors.forename: Camila
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Corvalan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Chile, Santiago de Chile, Chile.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Uauy
authors.affiliation: Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; MedStar Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Justin B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Echouffo-Tcheugui
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D037841:Pregnant People; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution