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Table 2 Maternal smoking during pregnancy and child cognitive/educational outcomes

From: The impact of pre and perinatal lifestyle factors on child long term health and social outcomes: a systematic review

Study

Aim

Methods

Outcome measure

Findings

Notes

Quality assessment

Brion et al., (2010) [30]

To assess the association between maternal prenatal smoking and child psychological problems.

Prospective cohort study in 3 health districts in England and Brazil.

N = 6735 in England, 509 children in Brazil

Behavioural outcomes measured by Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (England) or Child Behaviour Checklist (Brazil) around age 4

In the UK cohort maternal smoking was significantly associated with hyperactivity/attention problems (OR = 1.17 [95% CI 1.04-1.31]), and peer social problems (OR = 1.24 [95% CI 1.1-1.4]).

Smoking was also associated with conduct/externalizing problems (OR = 1.24 [95% CI:1.07-1.46])

Adjusted for good range of covariates included paternal smoking

Strong

Collins et al., (2007) [29]

To assess the association between prenatal tobacco exposure and child academic achievement.

Longitudinal analysis of 6390 mother-child pairs across the UK.

Adolescent offspring academic achievement measured through pass/fail on O-level (GCSE equivalent) and A-level at ages 16 and 18 respectively.

Prenatal exposure had no significant effects on test failure in adolescence.

Some covariates accounted for

Moderate

Hutchinson et al., (2010) [31]

Associations between maternal smoking in pregnancy and child behaviour.

Prospective cohort study of 13,778 families across the UK (MCS) followed from birth

Children’s conduct and hyperactivity/inattention problems measured by the SDQ at age 3 years.

After adjustment, for boys, mothers’ persistent smoking in pregnancy was significantly associated with conduct problems (OR = 1.44 [95% CI: 1.01-2.06] for light smoker; OR = 1.80 [95% CI: 1.28-2.54] for heavy smoker) and hyperactivity-inattention problem (OR = 1.56 [95% CI: 1.12-2.15] for light smoker; OR = 1.62 [95% CI: 1.13-2.33] for heavy smoker).

Good range of covariates

Strong

Maughan et al., (2004) [32]

To explore the association between prenatal smoking and early childhood behaviour

Longitudinal study of 1116 families in England and Wales.

Children’s conduct problems at age 5 and 7 years were assessed using the CBCL measures.

No significant association between maternal smoking and child behaviour.

Some covariates

Moderate