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 |