Higher risk of stillbirth among lower and middle income women who do not use tobacco, but live with smokers.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate pregnancy outcomes among women living with smokers. DESIGN: Data were from a cohort study of 1,217 women recruited during 3-7th month of pregnancy and 96% followed-up after delivery. The main objective was to investigate effects of smokeless tobacco on pregnancy outcomes. SETTING: Lower and middle-class neighborhoods in Mumbai, India. Community health volunteers who had good rapport with the local population collaborated with the study personnel to help locate and interact with potential participants. POPULATION: Singleton births from non-tobacco users; n = 924/903/802 for stillbirth/gestational age/birthweight analysis. Non-smoking women who lived with smokers (28%) were categorized as 'exposed' to second hand smoke (SHS). METHODS: House-to-house surveys with questionnaire administration and medical records abstraction by trained personnel at recruitment and follow-up. OUTCOME MEASURES: Stillbirth (no evidence of life at birth after at least 20 weeks of gestation), low birthweight (