Inequalities in smoking among pregnant women in North West London
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Pinho-Gomes, Ana-Catarina
Mullins, Edward
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Background
London has the lowest smoking prevalence among pregnant women in England. However, it was unclear whether the low overall prevalence masked inequalities. This study investigated the prevalence of smoking among pregnant women in North West London stratified by ethnicity and deprivation.
Methods
Data regarding smoking status, ethnicity and deprivation were extracted from electronic health records collected by maternity services at Imperial Healthcare NHS Trust between January 2020 and August 2022.
Results
A total of 25 231 women were included in this study. At the time of booking of antenatal care (mean of 12 weeks), 4% of women were current smokers, 17% were ex-smokers and 78% never smokers. There were marked differences in the smoking prevalence between ethnic groups. Women of Mixed—White and Black Caribbean ethnicity and White Irish women had the highest prevalence of smoking (12 and 9%, respectively). There was an over 4-fold increase in the prevalence of smoking between the most and the least deprived groups (5.6 versus 1.3%).
Conclusions
Even in a population with an overall low prevalence of smoking in pregnancy, women experiencing deprivation and from certain ethnic backgrounds have a high smoking prevalence and hence are the most likely to benefit from smoking cessation interventions.
London has the lowest smoking prevalence among pregnant women in England. However, it was unclear whether the low overall prevalence masked inequalities. This study investigated the prevalence of smoking among pregnant women in North West London stratified by ethnicity and deprivation.
Methods
Data regarding smoking status, ethnicity and deprivation were extracted from electronic health records collected by maternity services at Imperial Healthcare NHS Trust between January 2020 and August 2022.
Results
A total of 25 231 women were included in this study. At the time of booking of antenatal care (mean of 12 weeks), 4% of women were current smokers, 17% were ex-smokers and 78% never smokers. There were marked differences in the smoking prevalence between ethnic groups. Women of Mixed—White and Black Caribbean ethnicity and White Irish women had the highest prevalence of smoking (12 and 9%, respectively). There was an over 4-fold increase in the prevalence of smoking between the most and the least deprived groups (5.6 versus 1.3%).
Conclusions
Even in a population with an overall low prevalence of smoking in pregnancy, women experiencing deprivation and from certain ethnic backgrounds have a high smoking prevalence and hence are the most likely to benefit from smoking cessation interventions.
Date Issued
2023-09
Date Acceptance
2023-03-27
Citation
Journal of Public Health, 2023, 45 (3), pp.e518-e521
ISSN
1741-3842
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Start Page
e518
End Page
e521
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Public Health
Volume
45
Issue
3
Copyright Statement
© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Faculty of Public Health. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com
This article is published and distributed under the terms of the Oxford University Press, Standard Journals Publication Model (https://academic.oup.com/pages/standard-publication-reuse-rights)
This article is published and distributed under the terms of the Oxford University Press, Standard Journals Publication Model (https://academic.oup.com/pages/standard-publication-reuse-rights)
Identifier
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdad040
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
fdad040
Date Publish Online
2023-04-23