Passive smoking it increases stillbirth in developing countries

In some developing countries, up to 50% of pregnant women are exposed to second-hand smoke, which increases the risk of fetal death near the end of pregnancy.

We talk about stillbirth when the fetus dies after the twenty-second week of pregnancy. A study by researchers at York University shows the impact of passive smoking on stillbirths in developing countries.

Passive smoking: more deadly than active smoking

The study shows that passive smoking during pregnancy, especially by male smokers who expose pregnant women, is more common and more deadly than active smoking.

Passive smoking: which countries are most affected?

The study covered 30 developing countries. In Armenia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Jordan and Nepal more than 50% of pregnant women are exposed to second-hand smoke. And, in Indonesia alone, there are up to 10,000 births associated with stillbirth each year. In Pakistan, up to 7% of stillbirths occur among pregnant women exposed to second-hand smoke, compared to only 1% when pregnant women are smokers.

But, unfortunately, this problem is still very little supported at present, while it represents a huge burden in these countries. This is why researchers at York University believe that protecting pregnant women from passive smoking is urgently needed by developing effective prevention interventions.