2015-08-13
Impact of smoke-free legislation on perinatal and infant mortality: A national quasi-experimental study
Publication
Publication
Scientific Reports , Volume 5
Smoke-free legislation is associated with improved early-life outcomes; however its impact on perinatal survival is unclear. We linked individual-level data with death certificates for all registered singletons births in England (1995-2011). We used interrupted time series logistic regression analysis to study changes in key adverse perinatal events following the July 2007 national, comprehensive smoke-free legislation. We studied 52,163 stillbirths and 10,238,950 live-births. Smoke-free legislation was associated with an immediate 7.8% (95%CI 3.5-11.8; p < 0.001) reduction in stillbirth, a 3.9% (95%CI 2.6-5.1; p < 0.001) reduction in low birth weight, and a 7.6% (95%CI 3.4-11.7; p = 0.001) reduction in neonatal mortality. No significant impact on SIDS was observed. Using a counterfactual scenario, we estimated that in the first four years following smoke-free legislation, 991 stillbirths, 5,470 cases of low birth weight, and 430 neonatal deaths were prevented. In conclusion, smoke-free legislation in England was associated with clinically important reductions in severe adverse perinatal outcomes.
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| doi.org/10.1038/srep13020, hdl.handle.net/1765/87548 | |
| Scientific Reports | |
| Organisation | Department of Pediatrics |
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Been, J., Mackay, D. F., Millett, C., Pell, J. P., Schayck, O., & Sheikh, A. (2015). Impact of smoke-free legislation on perinatal and infant mortality: A national quasi-experimental study. Scientific Reports, 5. doi:10.1038/srep13020 |
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