Smoking Among Pregnant Women Rises in Michigan [CHARTS]
New report also shows increase in preterm births from 2008-14.
A new report on the health of Michigan mothers and children says the rate of expectant mothers who reported smoking while pregnant rose 18 percent from 2008 to 2014. At the same time, the rate of preterm births rose 20 percent. The findings are in the Michigan League for Public Policy‘s annual Right Start report on maternal and child health. Alicia Guevara Warren is MLPP’s Kids Count in Michigan project director. She tells WDET’s Pat Batcheller the state government has cut its budget for anti-smoking programs 34 percent since 2008.
“We need to think about how we’re using our tobacco settlement money. Are we really using that to help prevent smoking and to help people quit?”–Alicia Guevara Warren
The report also says the number of women under age 20 who gave birth dropped 30 percent during the survey period. Repeat teen births fell 10 percent, and the rate of children born to mothers without a high school diploma or GED certificate declined by 21 percent. Click on the links below to see the report and specific data for selected cities.
Right Start: 2016 Annual Report on Maternal and Child Health
