Children exposed to maternal prenatal smoking were 49% more likely to struggle with poor academic achievement.
RT’s Three Key Takeaways:
- Impact on Academic Achievement: Children exposed to maternal prenatal smoking are 49% more likely to experience poor academic performance compared to those not exposed, as demonstrated by a meta-analysis of 723,877 participants.
- Widespread Academic Risk: A systematic review of 19 studies involving 1.25 million participants found that 79% of the studies reported reduced academic achievement in children exposed to prenatal smoking.
- Ongoing Discovery of Harmful Effects: Despite existing knowledge of the risks, new research continues to uncover additional negative effects of prenatal smoking, including its significant impact on a child’s academic performance.
Smoking harms almost every part of your body, but if you smoke when pregnant, the toxic chemicals in tobacco will also harm your unborn baby, with new research showing that it could lead to reduced academic outcomes at school.
In a systematic review of 19 studies and 1.25 million participants, researchers at the University of South Australia, along with a team at Curtin University, SAHMRI, Harvard University, and others, found that 79% of studies reported reduced academic achievement in children exposed to maternal prenatal smoking.
An additional meta-analysis of eight primary studies with 723,877 participants showed that children exposed to maternal prenatal tobacco smoking were 49% more likely to struggle with poor academic achievement in comparison to those who had not been exposed to smoking in utero.
In Australia, 8.7% (or 26,433) of all mothers who gave birth in 2021 smoked at some time during their pregnancy.
Negative Effects of Prenatal Smoking
Lead researcher, University of South Australia’s Bereket Duko, PhD, says that despite what is already known about smoking, research is still uncovering additional negative effects.
“Prenatal smoking is known to cause multiple pregnancy complications, including a higher risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, restricted growth and development, and serious birth defects. It is also linked with adverse mental health outcomes and behavioral issues,” Bereket says in a release.
“Our new research adds to this, by showing that maternal prenatal smoking has a significant risk of limiting a child’s academic performance, putting them well behind their peers at school. We all want children to have the best start in life. But clearly, we must do better to educate mothers and families about the noxious effects of smoking while pregnant on mother and baby.”
ID 118965503 © Puhhha | Dreamstime.com
