Smoking during Pregnancy: A Risk Factor for Stunting and Anemia in Infancy

Abstract

Background: The co-occurrence of smoking, stunting, anaemia and poverty represent multiple biological and psychosocial risks that increase unjust and unfair inequalities since early infancy. Smoking during pregnancy not only increases risk of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and preterm birth, also impacts negatively on growth and child development.