By Bae Ji-sook
Staff reporter
About three out of every 100 pregnant women continue smoking during their pregnancy, seriously threatening the health of both the mother and the fetus, a group of doctors said Friday.
Professor Jun Jong-kwan of Seoul National University, Professor Jhun Hyung-joon of Korea University and others studied urine samples of 1,057 pregnant women visiting gynecologists nationwide, of which nicotine was detected in 3.03 percent. But in a written questionnaire given to 1,135 pregnant women in the same study, only 0.5 percent admitted to smoking.
"Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that early gestational period, low educational level and marriage with a smoker were major factors prompting pregnant women to smoke," Jhun said Friday, three days ahead of the "World's No Tobacco Day."
While the overall smoking rate has been showing a downward curve due to public anti-smoking campaigns on the harmful effects of tobacco, the habit among women, especially pregnant ones, is still evident, the researchers said.
"Smoking among pregnant women in Korea is not negligible and those who are concerned about maternal and child health should be aware of this possibility among pregnant women in countries with similar cultural backgrounds," Jun said.
Experts warned that smoking during pregnancy could trigger serious health problems to both the mother and the fetus, which could become life-threatening.
"Smoking during pregnancy is associated with adverse reproductive outcomes and health problems in the fetus and neonate. When a woman smokes, she is exposed to more than 4,000 toxic chemicals, including carbon monoxide, nicotine, cyanide and cadmium. It is a significant and preventable factor affecting ectopic pregnancy, placental abruption, placenta previa, and premature rupturing of the membrane. It also increases the risk of having a child with a congenital anomaly," the researchers said.
The doctors cited a U.S. Department of Health and Human Service report that if all pregnant women in the United States quit smoking, there would be an 11 percent reduction in stillbirths and a 5 percent reduction in newborn deaths.
Seo Hong-gwan, head of the Korean Association of Smoking and Health said, "Nicotine is a highly addictive substance, as potent as narcotics such as heroin or cocaine. Therefore, despite widespread recognition of the harmful effects of smoking, many addicted women are unable to quit even after they become pregnant. We need stronger regulations on cigarette distribution and more campaigning on its harm."
Earlier this year, the group said it will petition the National Assembly for banning the sale and distribution of cigarettes in Korea.
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