Abstract
Introduction: There has been significant research done on the effects of maternal smoking on pregnancy but not much data is available regarding the role of paternal smoking and its effect on the vitals of a newborn child. We therefore tried to evaluate the effects of paternal tobacco use on newborn child.
Methods: A prospective study carried out in gynecology and obstetrics department of our hospital. A questionnaire based interview was conducted with the delivering females in the month of October 2010 in terms of tobacco use of their spouse during pregnancy. The neonatal vitals were assessed and previous abortion history was also inquired.
Results: Age of the delivering females was 28.34 years ±4.095 S.D. Females delivered was n=100. Tobacco use was found among spouses of n=25 females. Out of them n=14 were smokers and n=11 chewed tobacco. Among females whose husbands smoked (n=14) previous abortion history was found in n=6 (42.85%) females out of which n=2 females were exposed to tobacco smoke during those earlier pregnancies, as compared to females with non smoking husbands (n=86) previous abortion was noted in n=19 (20.09%). Among females whose husbands chewed tobacco (n=11) previous abortion history was found in n=3 females. Among n=2 preterm neonates n=1 had paternal smoking history. Out of n=7 neonates with respiratory distress n=2 had paternal smoking history, n=1 (out of n=2) had delayed sucking and n=1 had delayed micturation.
Conclusion: Our results suggest that paternal tobacco consumption might have risks to the newborn child & ongoing pregnancy. Paternal smoking may have a biological correlation with such outcomes. Further research should be carried out in this aspect.
- © 2011 ERS
