One in eight of area’s pregnant women smoke
ONE in eight mums-to-be in Greater Manchester smoke throughout pregnancy.
Out of the 8,968 women in the region who gave birth in the third quarter of 2017/18, 1,106 were recorded as being smokers, according to new NHS Digital figures
That equates to 12.3 per cent.
It means none of the 10 NHS clinical commissioning group (CCG) areas in Greater Manchester have met the new national target of six per cent or less.
NHS bosses have warned that smoking during pregnancy can cause ‘serious pregnancy-related health problems’ including an increased risk of miscarriage, premature birth, low birth-weight and sudden unexpected death in infancy.
NHS Digital said only 34 out of 207 CCGs across the UK have managed to meet the six per cent target – and none of those are in Greater Manchester.
Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), a charity that works to eliminate the harm caused by tobacco, said: “If a woman smokes or is exposed to secondhand smoke in pregnancy it restricts oxygen to the baby and prevents it developing properly.
“This means babies might be born with health problems and can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth and cot death.
“Areas with high rates of smoking tend to have high rates of smoking in pregnancy.
“In places where smoking is common more women are likely to be smokers when they find out they’re pregnant.
“Many will quit but women who are highly addicted, live with other smokers or lack support to quit are less likely to be successful.
“It is so important that services are in place to support women to quit before, during and after pregnancy.”
Mums-to-be in Tameside and Glossop were the most likely to smoke while pregnant, with nearly one in six (16.7pc) or 116 out of 700 doing so.
In Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale, 106 women out of 710 maternities were smokers 14.9pc.
There were the same proportion of pregnant women smokers in Wigan with 132 out of 887.
Oldham saw 115 women out of 820 maternities (14pc) while in Bolton (13.6) and Salford (13.5) there were 123 out of 903 and 122 out of 904 deliveries respectively.
Women in Trafford were the least likely to smoke when pregnant with 50 out of 670 deliveries (7.5pc) while Stockport recorded the second lowest area figures with 78 out of 842 maternities (9.3pc).