Prevalence of Waterpipe Smoking among Rural Pregnant Women in Southern Iran

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of waterpipe smoking among rural pregnant women in Southern Iran and to identify the impact of maternal waterpipe smoking on baby’s birth weight. Subjects and Methods: A population-based survey was conducted in rural areas of Southern Iran in 2004 using existing health records and interviewing all mothers during the 10 days after delivery. Maternal exclusion criteria included cigarette smoking during pregnancy, a history or occurrence of epilepsy, diabetes and hypertension (gestational and/or essential) during pregnancy, factors that have been proved to have detrimental effects on birth weight. Results: Of the 2,808 mothers interviewed, 224 (8%) were waterpipe smokers of which 90 (3.2%) and 134 (4.8%) were occasional (smoking less than once per day) and daily (at least once per day) smokers, respectively. Six hundred and seventy-four (24%) were passively exposed to waterpipe smoke during pregnancy and 322 (11.5%) were exposed to second-hand cigarette smoke. Mothers who started smoking during the first trimester had lower birth weight babies (3,215 ± 612 g) compared to those who started smoking during the second or third trimesters (3,447 ± 550 g, p = 0.04). Conclusion: Waterpipe smoking during pregnancy is prevalent in Southern Iran and appears to be a risk factor for low birth weight babies.

Prevalence of Water Pipe Use and Its Correlates in Iranian Women of Reproductive Age in Tehran: A Population-Based Study

“…It is also higher than the 3.5% reported for men and the 1.9% reported for women in a national survey of all Iranian provinces [17]. However, other studies from southern areas of Iran among pregnant women in rural areas of southern Iran reported a higher prevalence rate of 8% [18] and 17% among elderly women in Bander Abbas [16]. The high prevalence of water pipe smoking in the southern provinces of Iran may be due to their proximity to Arab countries as high prevalences of water pipe smoking have been reported (25.6%) in Lebanon [22], (36.8%) Jordan [15], (37.8%) Egypt [23], and (45%) Kuwait [14].…”

“…The prevalence of water pipe smoking has been determined during pregnancy in southern Iran [18], but no study has been conducted to address water pipe smoking and its associated factors during the reproductive age. Most water pipe users are within this age group, and there are 21 million women of reproductive age (15–49 years) in Iran, and 3.8 million (about 18%) of these women live in Tehran [19].…”

High levels of 1-hydroxypyrene and hydroxyphenanthrenes in urine of children and adults from Afghanistan

“…Diseases such as cancer and ischemic heart disease can manifest themselves quickly in frequent waterpipe smokers. Mothers who smoke waterpipe during pregnancy are at an increased risk of delivering babies with reduced weight due to the high concentration of chemical compounds in waterpipe smoke that could have toxic effects (Kallen, 2001;Kirchengast and Hartmann, 2003;Radwan et al, 2003;Mirahmadizadeh and Nakhaee, 2008).…”

The Effect of Cigarette and Hookah Smoke on Oral Bacterial Growth, Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguis: An In vitro Study

“…Although hookah is smoked in some countries, its use is very prevalent among Iranians, especially youths (27). Thus, while the nicotine content and plasma levels are not different between cigarette and hookah (10), the concept of the general population is that hookah has less harms, and it is therefore used frequently in Iran, especially in women (28), which according to the results of the present study can have deteriorating effects on the oral health of women and their children, who are in close contact with their mother. Therefore it is necessary to emphasize the effect of hookah smoking on bacterial overgrowth of the oral cavity in future studies and include educational programs for Iranians to reduce its use.…”