Rates of women smoking during pregnancy have dropped!
We have some fantastic news to share with you just before Christmas!
The Australia’s Mothers and Babies report (AIHW) was released today, with results showing that there has been a significant drop in the number of pregnant women smoking.
2008 revealed 16.2% of Australian women smoked during pregnancy and in WA 15.4%.
In 2009, 14.5% of Australian women smoked during pregnancy and in WA 14.5%.
2008 revealed 50.9% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women smoked during pregnancy.
In 2009, 49.6% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women smoked during pregnancy. Any proportion of behavioural change in this population is a massive step forward.
Given that smoking whilst pregnant or around new borns is the number one cause of asthma in children, these results indicate a positive outlook for future asthma rates in children - the next step is to maintain the downward spiral!
For more information about findings from the survey, visit http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=10737420870