SMOKING SHOCKER: A FIFTH OF MUMS-TO-BE WON’T KICK HABIT
AFIFTH of women in Halton smoke during pregnancy, researchers have said.
Data published by the Health & Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) said the smoking rate was 19% during the first three-month period of 2015-16.
This was nearly twice the national figure of 10.6%.
With cigarettes now costing around £6 a pack, pregnant women could be spending more than £1,500 during the nine months from conception until labour.
Of the 327 maternities recorded in Halton during the first quarter of 201516, 62 woman smoked while pregnant.
The highest rate in England was Blackpool on 26% and the lowest was 1.5% in Westminster
The HSCIC said that mothers who smoke during pregnancy put their babies at risk of serious health problems including complications during labour and a greater risk of miscarriage, premature birth, low birth-weight and sudden unexpected death in infancy.
Halton had the second highest rate in Cheshire and Merseyside, with only Knowsley higher at 21.8%.
Lower neighbouring area rates included Warrington at 9.4%, west Cheshire at 7.8% and Liverpool at 17.5%.
Slightly to the north in Southport and Formby the rate was 2.9%.
The average rate for Cheshire and Merseyside was 14%, and for the north of England it was 14.5%.
Data for the study was collected according to NHS clinical commissioning group area.
According to the research, smoking during pregnancy has been falling over the past decade, with the number of smokers at time of delivery falling to 10.6% in 2015-16 from 15.1% in 2006-07.