Pregnancy (Maternal and Fetal) Outcome in Women Who Used Smokeless Tobacco: A Cross-sectional Study

Aim: To assess the pregnancy (maternal and fetal) outcome in pregnant women who used smokeless tobacco in tertiary care hospital.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, LUMHS, Jamshoro/Hyderabad from August 2016 to February 2017.

Methodology: Total 169 pregnant women who used smokeless tobacco (gutka, paan, naswar, mainpuri) were included. General examination was performed. Laboratory investigations were ordered for complete blood counts. Ultrasonography was performed for gestational age and fetal weight. We calculated descriptive statistics. The stratification was completed. After stratification, the Chi-square test was used.

Results: Mean gestational age was 29.15±8.80 weeks. Mean birth weight was 1.96±0.81Kg. Among smokeless tobacco, 24.3% used Paan, 18.9% used Gutka, 23.7% used naswar and 47.3% used mainpuri. Mean duration of use of smokeless tobacco was 32.94±17.63 months. 62.1% have low weight birth and 34.3% have still birth. 28.4% had spontaneous abortion, 58% had anemia and 34.9% had premature delivery.

Conclusion: This study concludes that mothers who used smokeless tobacco had a higher rate of abortion, preterm delivery, stillbirth, and delivery of low birth weight newborns.