A preliminary report on cigarette smoking and the incidence of prematurity

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-1957

Publication Title

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

ISSN

00029378

Abstract

This report, which is based upon data gathered from 7,499 patients, shows an incidence of premature births at private hospitals which is approximately twice as great for smoking mothers as it is for nonsmoking mothers. The prematurity rate increases with the number of cigarettes smoked per day. The highest prematurity rates are for heavy smokers and the lowest rates for nonsmokers. The County Hospital represents a different population in which socioeconomic factors may affect the picture. The prematurity rate for nonsmokers is relatively higher at the County Hospital than at the private hospitals and there is less difference between the prematurity rate for smokers and nonsmokers. Mexicans delivered at the County Hospital report less smoking than any other ethnic group and show the lowest prematurity rate. © 1957.

Volume

73

Issue

4

First Page

808

Last Page

815

DOI

10.1016/0002-9378(57)90391-5

PubMed ID

13411046

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