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For Immediate Release August 28, 2001 Press ReleaseSmoking During Pregnancy--Rates Drop Steadily in the 1990's, But Among Teen Mothers Progress Has Stalled The rate of smoking during pregnancy dropped 33 percent between 1990 and 1999, so that in 1999 just over 12 percent of all women reported smoking during their pregnancies, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The greatest success in reducing smoking was for women in their late twenties and early thirties, where there was over a 40 percent drop since 1990. "Mothers are far more likely to have healthier babies when they make the smart decision not to smoke during pregnancy," HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said. "While the overall trend is encouraging, it's clear that we must do more to ensure young women understand smoking's real health risks for them and for their children." Teenagers were more likely than women of any other age to smoke while pregnant. After experiencing a dramatic 20-percent decline in the first part of the decade, smoking rates among pregnant teenagersunlike women of all other ages--increased by 5 percent from 1994 to 1999. The highest rate in 1999 (19 percent) was for women 18-19 years of age."More women are making the right choice and are not smoking during pregnancy, yet too many womenalmost a half million in 1999smoked while pregnant," said Dr. Jeffrey P. Koplan, CDC Director. "The best advice we can give all women is to begin their pregnancies as healthy non-smokers," he said. "Smoking During Pregnancy in the 1990s," from CDCs National Center for Health Statistics, presents an analysis of the current patterns and trends in smoking by age, race and ethnic origin on a national basis as well as a state-by-state breakdown of smoking rates for each year and the percent change from 1990 to 1999. CDC tracks smoking rates among pregnant women because of the serious consequences to their babies, such as low birthweight, growth retardation, and infant mortality. Other highlights of the report show:
Data on smoking during pregnancy are based on information reported on birth certificates filed in state vital statistics offices and reported to CDC through the National Vital Statistics System. Currently the birth certificate obtains information on whether the mother smoked during pregnancy and the number of cigarettes per day. Because of the importance of this information, questions on tobacco use are being improved and expanded to provide more detailed information on smoking patterns immediately before and during pregnancy. Copies of the report can be viewed or downloaded without charge from the CDC Home Page at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs. This report updates a comprehensive review of smoking and pregnancy presented in the 2001 Surgeon Generals Report on Women and Smoking, issued in March 2001. For more information on women and smoking go to http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco. CDC protects people's health and safety by preventing and controlling diseases and injuries; enhances health decisions by providing credible information on critical health issues; and promotes healthy living through strong partnerships with local, national and international organizations. |
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