Jump to full article: Adelaide Now -- The Advertiser and Sunday Mail (au), 2008-06-29
Author: Suellen Hinde
Intro: ALMOST half of all pregnant teenagers in Queensland continue to smoke during thier pregnancy, new statistics reveal
And across all age groups in the state, more than 20 per cent of pregnant women continue to smoke throughout pregnancy - higher than the national average.
Research shows that smoking while pregnant harms the health of the mother and baby, increasing the risk of premature birth and haemorrhage among mothers.
The disturbing statistics revealed by the Queensland Perinatal Data Collection Unit have Australia's leading tobacco control expert, Professor Simon Chapman, calling for financial incentives to help mothers quit. . . .
The statistics, based on 18 months of data collection until December 2006, give the first comprehensive picture of smoking during pregnancy among mothers who gave birth in Queensland.
Smoking rates for teenage mothers are at 44 per cent.
Of the 4314 teenage mothers who gave birth in the 18-month research period, 1905 smoked throughout their pregnancy.
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