Ban good for babies

If you live in a state like California then you are aware of the very strict limits that some governments are placing on smoking. I was at a restaurant today with an outdoor patio. A sign near the entrance announced that in accordance with laws, the patio was non-smoking and that there would be no smoking within ten feet of the perimeter of the restaurant.

There are all kinds of advocates for smoking limitations, most of which are for health reasons. Now, new research looks at birth outcomes and maternal smoking in areas where smoking is prohibited. According to this data, strong smoke-free policies can improve birth outcomes by reducing maternal smoking.

The study was present in November at the American Public Health Association’s Annual Meeting & Expo in Denver. Researchers compared data from a so-called smoking town to similar data from a smoke-free town.

In Pueblo, Colorado a citywide smoking ban was put in place. Results from there showed a 23 percent decrease in the odds of preterm births when compared to data collected before the ban. There was also a 37 percent decrease in the odds f maternal smoking in Pueblo post ban. Researchers compared this data to El Paso County, Colorado where there has never been a smoking ban. There was no drop in negative outcome during the same period. A similar study has been done in Ireland with similar results.

Both studies suggest a significant and immediate impact on pregnancy and birth experience. “This research proves that smoking is an irrefutable risk factor for expectant mothers who are acutely more affected,” said Associate Professor Robert Page, PharmD, MSPh, at the University of Colorado Schools of Pharmacy and Medicine, and lead researcher. “The good news is that implementing strong tobacco control policy can protect even the most vulnerable from the deadly consequences of smoking.”

Source: University of Colorado, Denver; ScienceDaily