Tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption in Polish population of pregnant women

Tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption create health problems which apply not only to individuals and family but also to different age and social groups as well as to national economy. A very important effect of smoking and alcohol drinking during pregnancy is increase probability of harmful health effects on fetus. The main aim of our study was evaluation the exposure of pregnant women in Poland to alcohol and tobacco smoke on the basis of standardized survey questionnaire (22 questions) done in the group of 20 000 mothers in different regions of country. It was found that among studied women 40% were alcohol, and 70% of tobacco abstinent both before conception and during pregnancy. Before pregnancy smoking declared 30% and drinking 60% of mothers. In this group 60% confirmed tobacco smoking and 9% consumption of alcohol during pregnancy. However 4% quit drinking in I and II trimester but 2% did not even in term of delivery. Cigarette smoking continued 60% mothers in I, 42% in II trimester and 37% in 38 – 42 weeks of pregnancy. Negative correlation was observed between smoking and birth mass, whereas drinking was without effect on newborn weight. Our study indicated that tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking during pregnancy need to be investigated intensively in order to create proper prevention national policy.