Individual and Regional Characteristics Associated with Maternal Smoking During Pregnancy in Japan: Healthy Parents and Children 21

Abstract

Smoking during pregnancy causes various maternal and fetal health problems. Although there are considerable differences in maternal smoking proportions between localities, only a few studies have investigated the effects of regional characteristics on maternal smoking behavior. This study aimed to clarify the association between maternal smoking during pregnancy and individual and regional characteristics. We used data from a large nationwide birth cohort study in Japan that consisted of information on 20,267 women with children aged 3–4 months. The multilevel regression model was used to examine the association between smoking behavior during pregnancy and individual and regional characteristics. On multilevel analysis, late birth order, young age of the mother at birth, low birth weight, low economic status, husband’s smoking during pregnancy, maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy, absence of a pregnancy counselor, and lack of participation in local events for childrearing were significantly associated with maternal smoking behavior during pregnancy at the individual level. Meanwhile, a high unemployment rate and a high number of nurseries were significantly associated with maternal smoking behavior during pregnancy at the regional level. In conclusion, we showed the relation between maternal smoking during pregnancy and the individual- and regional-level characteristics.

Factors affecting birthweight decline in recent Japan based on birth certificates

“…Moreover, in a recent survey on mothers and children aged 3-4 months, LBW was signi cantly associated with maternal smoking [21]. A decrease in the proportion of pregnant women who smoked could be a cause of decrease in birthweight after 2000.…”

Trends in Primary Tooth Emergence Pattern and Associated Factors in Japanese Infants

“… 17 , 18 Short gestational age, maternal smoking habit, low prepregnancy maternal body mass index (BMI), low gestational weight gain, and low socioeconomic status were reported as factors related to LBW. 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 Kato et al 17 reported that the recent decrease in birth weight of Japanese infants from 1980 to 2004 could be partially explained by the decrease in gestational age, and they also noted the increasing proportion of 20- to 39 year-old women with a BMI <18.5 kg/m 2 as an additional factor. Furthermore, Yoshida et al 18 reported that medical interventions for delivery, such as induction of labour and caesarean deliveries, were important factors related to the increase in the proportion of LBW infants between 1980 and 2015 in Japan.…”

Factors associated with birthweight decline in Japan (1980–2004)

“…In Japan, the smoking prevalence among pregnant women was 5.0, 10.0, 5.0 and 4.9% in 1990, 2000, 2010 and 2013, respectively [25,26]. Moreover, in a recent survey on mothers and children aged 3-4 months, low birthweight was significantly associated with maternal smoking [14]. A decrease in the proportion of pregnant women who smoked could be a cause of decrease in low birthweight after 2000.…”

“…Factors associated to low birthweight include short gestational age [11,12], maternal smoking habit [13,14], low pre-pregnancy maternal body mass index (BMI) [15], low gestational weight gain [15], anemia [16], and low socioeconomic status [17] among others. Studies from Japan reported additional factors of low birthweight, including high maternal age (more than 30 years of age), low BMI (less than 18.5 kg/m 2 ) [5,18], and preterm birth [5,11].…”