North has 'more pregnant smokers'

20/02/12

By Anna Dubuis

New data shows that women living in the North East are three times more likely to be smokers at the time of giving birth as women in London.

The NHS survey found that while 6.1 per cent of women in London were smokers when they gave birth, this figure rose to 20.2 per cent in the North East.

The average across England was 13.4 per cent of women, which was a decrease from 15.1 per cent in 2006/7, but data from every northern strategic health authority were "considerably higher" than in the South.

The NHS Information Centre's chief executive, Tim Straughan, warned that smoking can cause a range of health problems, including lower birthweight, pre-term birth, perinatal mortality and placental complications.

"The statistics we have published today highlight stark regional variation in the proportion of women smoking at the time of giving birth" he said.

"They will be of considerable interest to those responsible for promoting good health during and after pregnancy."