Also, in the present study, it was generally seen that the women
reporting exposure to ETS were less educated, had larger families
(higher parity and more number of previous live issues)
and were unemployed. This would point to a poorer socio-economic
background of these mothers. This in itself could lead
to lower birth weight secondary to malnutrition (there was a
significantly higher incidence of anaemia). Overcrowding and
poorly ventilated homes, particularly in the lower socio-economic
strata of the society are also likely to enhance the efGoel
et al: Passive smoking in pregnancy
16 J Postgrad Med March 2004 Vol 50 Issue 1
16 CMYK
fects of the ETS exposure. The differences in the incidence of
small-for-gestation birth were significant even after adjusting
for all possible confounders.