One in five Gippsland mothers smoked during pregnancy, according to newly-released data.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report on pregnant women and their babies released on Thursday exposed Gippsland as being the third highest primary health network area nationally behind western NSW and the Northern Territory for smoking rates during pregnancy.
While the report revealed a national decline in rates of women smoking during pregnancy, Quit Victoria director Dr Sarah White says Gippsland’s high rates were not surprising.
“They’re reflective of higher smoking rates in the community,” Dr White said.
The report shows 21.6 per cent of mothers in Gippsland smoked while pregnant, which is about double the national average of 10.4 per cent.
Data was taken between 2013 and 2015 for the report.
Dr White said the health impacts of smoking during pregnancy could be “quite extraordinary” on both the mother and child and included pregnancy complications, miscarriage and low birth weights.
“In the Valley there have traditionally been higher levels of breathing problems and babies born to mums who smoke have a much higher risk of lung function issues when adults, so it’s a life-long impact on the child and potentially terrible outcomes for mum and baby,” she said.
The report cited nearly one in five mothers who smoked during pregnancy identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, and said the high smoking rates in some areas could be partly explained by the high proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in those areas.
Dr White said Quit Victoria saw higher smoking rates in Aboriginal communities everywhere in Australia which was related to historical challenges.
“We are seeing are significant improvements in terms of smoking going down in Aboriginal communities which is wonderful,” Dr White said.
“We do have an Aboriginal Quitline which is specifically for the different needs Aboriginal people do have in terms of the way they do approach smoking and quitting.”
Dr White pointed to another interesting finding in the study.
“When we see high smoking rates we often see high mortality infant rates … we’re not seeing that in Gippsland,” she said.
“Quite possibly when a baby is born people are not smoking around them which is great.”
She urged people not to demonise women for smoking during pregnancy.
“Quitting is hard. It’s hard when there’s a lot going on, so what we can do as a community is be supportive but not critical.”
Phone Quitline on 13 7848.
