Perinatal tobacco smoke exposure in 12,405 mother-infant pairs

The prevalence of smoking during pregnancy, current maternal tobacco smoking, and SHS remain high in South America. Perinatal tobacco smoke exposure is strongly related to greater wheezing severity and a higher prevalence of admissions for wheezing and pneumonia during the first year of life. Low socioeconomic status and low maternal education were the most significant risk factors for smoking during pregnancy, as well as for current maternal smoking and the presence of SHS at home. Our results point to the urgent need to improve the quantity and quality of education against tobacco smoking in girls and families, starting very early in life.