Abstract
Introduction: Tobacco use in women of reproductive age group(15-49 years) may contribute to poor maternal
and child health outcomes. We estimated the prevalence of smokeless tobacco (ST), cigarette, and waterpipe
use among these women in Pakistan and explored associations with socio-economic differences and
birthweights after recent childbirths (past 2 years).
Methods: We used the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys(MICS) datasets from three provinces in Pakistan.
Prevalence was generated for current use of tobacco among women with recent childbirth(WWRC) and without
recent childbirth(WWoRC). We further compared socio-economic status and birthweights between tobacco
users and non-users.
Results: The prevalence of current ST use was 1·4% and 2·5%, and waterpipe smoking was 1·2% and 1·8%,
in WWRC and WWoRC, respectively. ST use varied across Pakistan’s provinces by 13 percentage points in
WWRC and WWoRC while waterpipe smoking by 10 and 15 percentage points, respectively. The odds of using
any form of tobacco were significantly lower with higher levels of education or wealth index. Compared to
children born to mothers who did not use tobacco, the birthweight of children born to mothers who smoked
waterpipe was on average 0.83kg (95%CI -1·6 to -0·1) lower whereas it was 0·33kg (95%CI -0·9 to 0·3) higher
for ST users.
Conclusions: Tobacco use among women of reproductive age in Pakistan varied significantly based on province
and tobacco type. Waterpipe smoking was associated with a reduction in birth weight. Raising awareness of the
harms of tobacco use among women of reproductive age and targeting interventions in high-burden regions of
Pakistan should be prioritised.
and child health outcomes. We estimated the prevalence of smokeless tobacco (ST), cigarette, and waterpipe
use among these women in Pakistan and explored associations with socio-economic differences and
birthweights after recent childbirths (past 2 years).
Methods: We used the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys(MICS) datasets from three provinces in Pakistan.
Prevalence was generated for current use of tobacco among women with recent childbirth(WWRC) and without
recent childbirth(WWoRC). We further compared socio-economic status and birthweights between tobacco
users and non-users.
Results: The prevalence of current ST use was 1·4% and 2·5%, and waterpipe smoking was 1·2% and 1·8%,
in WWRC and WWoRC, respectively. ST use varied across Pakistan’s provinces by 13 percentage points in
WWRC and WWoRC while waterpipe smoking by 10 and 15 percentage points, respectively. The odds of using
any form of tobacco were significantly lower with higher levels of education or wealth index. Compared to
children born to mothers who did not use tobacco, the birthweight of children born to mothers who smoked
waterpipe was on average 0.83kg (95%CI -1·6 to -0·1) lower whereas it was 0·33kg (95%CI -0·9 to 0·3) higher
for ST users.
Conclusions: Tobacco use among women of reproductive age in Pakistan varied significantly based on province
and tobacco type. Waterpipe smoking was associated with a reduction in birth weight. Raising awareness of the
harms of tobacco use among women of reproductive age and targeting interventions in high-burden regions of
Pakistan should be prioritised.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 931-939 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Nicotine & tobacco research |
| Volume | 26 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| Early online date | 1 Feb 2024 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jul 2024 |
Bibliographical note
© The Author(s) 2024Keywords
- Prevalence
- Tobacco Use
- SMOKELESS TOBACCO
- non-cigarette tobacco products
- WOMEN
- reproductive age group
- socio-demographic
- low birth weight