Pregnant Smokers Rate High in Wales

Wales has the highest number of women smoking during pregnancy in the UK with one-in-six lighting up while expecting, a new report has revealed. The Tobacco and Health in Wales report, published today by the Public Health Wales Observatory and the Welsh Government, revealed that 16% of mothers in Wales smoked throughout their pregnancy in 2010, compared to a UK average of 12%. The figure is highest among women under 20 with nearly one in three in this age range smoking while pregnant. In the same period, 12% of mothers in England smoked during their pregnancy, while Northern Ireland and Scotland saw 15% and 13% respectively. The figure of one-in-six pregnant women smoking in Wales is comparable to last year’s figure but experts say the number is coming down slowly. Helen Rogers, director for Wales at the Royal College of Midwives, said: “These figures are worryingly high and those on women under 20 are alarming. Urgent action is needed to tackle this. “Smoking in pregnancy can have serious and long term effects on the developing baby, and the effects on the smoker themselves are well documented and supported by a substantial body of evidence. “We know that quitting smoking is not easy and we need to be doing all we can to support these women to stop smoking and to send out a strong public health message to those who have not started. “It is easier to not begin smoking at all than it is to stop when you are pregnant. Also if you are pregnant now and know the damage that your smoking can do to you and your baby, then please take action and speak to your midwife.” Elen de Lacy, chief executive of ASH Wales, said: “Rates of smoking during pregnancy are coming down, but they are coming down too slowly. “It’s a big issue for us in Wales. We should be focusing on stopping young girls becoming the smokers of tomorrow. “We should be looking at why girls are smoking through pregnancy. There are some girls who find out they are pregnant and stop straight away and there are others that do not seem to be able to stop and we need to find out the reasons for this – is it education?