Why Is This Important?

Use of tobacco products during pregnancy is associated with poor birth outcomes.

Definition

Self-reported use of any tobacco product by the mother during pregnancy

Data Sources

• Birth Certificate Database, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, New Jersey Department of Health
  (https://www.nj.gov/health/vital/)
• Natality public-use data, CDC WONDER On-line Database, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  (https://wonder.cdc.gov/natality.html)

How the Measure is Calculated

How Are We Doing?

Tobacco use during pregnancy has declined 86% among New Jersey mothers since 2000. Tobacco use during pregnancy increases the likelihood of delivering preterm (< 37 weeks gestation) and at low birth weight (< 2500 g). Tobacco use during pregnancy is much more prevalent in southernmost New Jersey than in the rest of the state. It is also more likely among Black and White women than among Asian and Hispanic women. The original and the more stringent revised Healthy New Jersey 2020 targets were achieved by all racial/ethnic groups.

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

The smoking rate among New Jersey mothers is about one-third the nationwide rate.

What Is Being Done?

[http://momsquit.com/ Mom's Quit Connection] (MQC) helps pregnant and postpartum women as well as their families by providing free, one-on-one counseling for those who want to quit smoking to protect their children from exposure to harmful tobacco smoke. MQC is a program of Family Health Initiatives funded by the NJ Department of Health.

Available Services

Mom's Quit Connection for Families: [http://momsquit.com/]

More Resources

NJ-PRAMS Topic Reports and Data Briefs: [https://www.nj.gov/health/fhs/maternalchild/mchepi/prams/] CDC: [https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/about/cigarettes-and-reproductive-health.html Health Effects of Cigarettes: Reproductive Health] CDC: [https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/e-cigarettes/health-effects.html#cdc_generic_section_9-health-effects-of-vaping-for-pregnant-people Health effects of vaping for pregnant people] CDC: [https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/other-tobacco-products/smokeless-tobacco-health-effects.html Health Effects of Smokeless Tobacco]

Health Program Information

Tobacco-Free for a Healthy New Jersey: [http://www.tobaccofreenj.com/] NJDOH Office of Tobacco Control, Nutrition and Fitness: [http://www.nj.gov/health/fhs/tobacco/] NJDOH Maternal and Child Health Services: [http://www.nj.gov/health/fhs/maternalchild/]