Half of teenage mothers in East Riding are smokers, figures show

HEALTH chiefs have issued a fresh call to young people to quit smoking after latest figures showed that half of teenage mothers in the East Riding are smokers when they give birth.

According to figures from Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, 50 per cent of 14- to 19-year-old mothers were smokers at the time of delivery – nearly double the rate recorded in the first quarter of last year.

Almost one in five (19 per cent) of mothers aged between 20 and 24 were smokers, while eight per cent of women aged 25 or over smoked throughout pregnancy,

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The figures have alarmed public health officials concerned about the impact of smoking on mothers and their babies.

A spokeswoman for NHS East Riding said: “We are concerned by these figures.

“In terms of reducing numbers women smoking in pregnancy we have been close to or on national target for a number of years.

“Although we have improved we still have concerns, particularly about younger smokers.

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“The reasons for our concern are that smoking can cause a range of serious problems during pregnancy including lower birth weight, pre-term births, placental complications and even higher risk of infant death.

“Health complications attributed to smoking in pregnancy cost NHS East Riding of Yorkshire approximately £300,000 per year which is money that could be invested in other children’s services.”

NHS East Riding spent £7.8m on smoking-related hospital admissions between 2008-09, and smoking-related illnesses accounted for a fifth of all admissions of adults aged over 35.

It says it could reinvest £658 a year into other health services for each smoker who quits.

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The organisation said expectant mothers who did quit smoking would significantly reduce the risk of not only losing their baby, but avoiding serious complications in pregnancy and other potentially devastating effects after birth.

The spokeswoman said: “Stopping smoking in pregnancy will mean decreased risk of spontaneous abortion, placental complications or ectopic pregnancy.

“Stopping smoking means infants benefit from unrestricted interuterine growth, an increased birthweight and reduced chance of premature delivery. In later life, smoking in pregnancy is associated with sudden unexpected death, respiratory illness, attention problems, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).”

She said a lot of effective support was available for those who wanted help to kick the habit.

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“We advise pregnant women to stop smoking, not just cut down,” she said. “We have a fast-track system for pregnant women and their partners through the Hull and East Riding Stop Smoking service. Pregnant women can be prescribed Nicotine Replacement Therapy, which is free.

“We work with hospital midwifery services to identify women at an early stage and offer support to stop smoking.”

NHS East Riding is also piloting incentive schemes and other initiatives to promote “smoke free families”.

The data on smoking in pregnancy rates will be discussed at a meeting of East Riding Council’s NHS Overview and Scrutiny Committee tomorrow – a day before national No Smoking Day.

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Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Trust is also trying new ways of helping smokers to quit.

A smoking cessation health trainer is to visit patients in its coronary care unit and will offer support to them from the time they are admitted to when they are discharged and back in the community.

Cardiac rehabilitation nurse John Loughborough, based at Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby, said: “We know many patients find it extremely difficult to stay off the cigarettes once they are back in their own home. Help is out there.”

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