Father’s Role in Secondhand Smoke Exposure During Pregnancy

Abstract

Background: The effects of smoke from tobacco products are harmful to pregnant mothers and their unborn children. The problem is not limited to mothers who themselves smoke; fathers who are smokers expose expectant mothers to secondhand smoke. This review identifies and examines the role fathers play in exposing pregnant mothers to passive smoke that leads to secondary medical conditions for women and their children. Methods: The study examined 70 articles from peer-reviewed journals in the following databases: Scopus, Science Direct, Wiley Online, MEDLINE, ProQuest Central, and PsycINFO. The literature search focused on articles with publication dates from 2006 to 2016. Results: A total of 10 articles provided evidence for various effects of secondhand smoke such as asthma, spontaneous abortions, stillbirths, congenital malformations, and low birth weight. Furthermore, the literature presented an extensive background regarding the paternal role in a pregnant mother’s exposure to smoke. Conclusion: Paternal smoking during pregnancy has a significant effect on the health of the mother and the child during pregnancy. Health care professionals should reinforce safety measures for pregnant women to prevent medical disorders resulting from exposure to smoking