Women who use smokeless tobacco products during pregnancy have an increased likelihood of having a low-birth-weight, preterm baby, according to a population-based study conducted in Mumbai, India, betweenjune and November 2002.1 Of 1,217 pregnant women interviewed, roughly 17% had used such a product at least once a day for the previous six months-mainly as a powder or a chewable mixture; 96% of women were followed until delivery. On average, deliveries in the group using tobacco were 6.2 days earlier and preterm deliveries 11.6 days earlier than those in the group not using tobacco. Furthermore, infants of women who reported tobacco use had a lower birth weight than those of women who did not (2,672 g vs. 2,777 g). After adjustment for factors such as women's socioeconomic status, weight, anemia status and number of antenatal visits, the odds of delivery before 28 and 32 weeks were significantly elevated among tobacco users (odds ratios, 8.0 and 4.9, respectively), as were the odds of low birth weight (1.6). The researchers conclude that "smokeless tobacco use in pregnant women reduces birth weight and...shortens the gestational period," and they recommend that the habit "receive specific attention as part of routine prenatal care."

1. Gupta PC and Sreevidya S, Smokeless tobacco use, birth weight, and gestational age: population based, prospective cohort study of 1217 women in Mumbai, India, British Medical Journal, 2004,328(7455): 1538-1540.

Copyright Alan Guttmacher Institute Sep 2004
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