Secondhand smoke behind thousands of still births: Study

Over fifty per cent of pregnant women in developing countries are exposed to second hand smoke, according to a study which found that such exposure causes about 17,000 still births every year in Pakistan alone.

Exposure to secondhand smoke during pregnancy increases the risk of stillbirth, congenital malformations, low birth-weight and respiratory illnesses.

However, little is known about the extent of secondhand smoke exposure during pregnancy.

Researchers from University of York in the UK looked at the number of pregnancies alongside smoking exposure data in 30 developing countries from 2008 to 2013.

The analysis revealed that in Armenia, Indonesia, Jordan, Bangladesh and Nepal more than 50 per cent of pregnant women reported exposure to household secondhand smoke.

According to the study published in the journal BMJ Tobacco Control, this led to over 10,000 still births in Indonesia alone. Over 40 per cent of all pregnant women in Pakistan are exposed to secondhand smoke - causing 17,000 still births every year