Relationship between birth weight and domestic maternal passive smoking exposure

This study aimed to assess the relationship between birth weight and maternal exposure to passive smoking during pregnancy, and to investigate some other determinants of birth weight. A retrospective cohort study in Baghdad, Iraq was conducted during February to August 2004 on a random sample of 300 non-smoker housewife mothers, interviewed 24 hours after delivery: 150 were not exposed to passive smoking at home and 150 were exposed. The mean birth weight of exposed newborns was significantly lower than non-exposed newborns. In exposed newborns, a significant inverse relationship was noticed between birth weight and the number of cigarettes smoked by household members (r = –0.27). Multiple regression analysis showed that after controlling for all the variables studied, birth weight had a significant inverse correlation with the maternal exposure to passive smoking and a positive correlation with adequate antenatal care.