KNOWLEDGE OF ADVERSE HEALTH OUTCOMES OF MATERNAL EXPOSURE TO PASSIVE AND ACTIVE SMOKING IN NIGERIAT.E. IWUAGWU, I.G. OZURUMBA, A. C. ISABU, N.K. ENEMUO, A. IBHAFIDON, S.N. BURBWA, W. YOHANNA, C.N. NGUMAH, N.E. ANYICHIE AND O.K. ONYEKWEREAbstract Studies have shown that maternal passive and active smoking is associated with an increased risk of obstetric complications (OC) and adverse perinatal outcomes (APO). This study assessed knowledge of impact of maternal passive and active smoking on obstetric complications, impaired fecundity (IF) and adverse perinatal outcomes. A cross-sectional study was conducted between February and November 2020 at the public health facilities providing antenatal and postpartum care. Data on passive smoking, knowledge of its adverse impacts, and active tobacco smoking were collected in the process using a 28-item structured questionnaire. The final sample was 1,463 participants, of which 80.2% reported passive smoking. The women aged 30-39 years (OR = 1.390, CI [1.067-1.810], p < .05) and those reporting passive smoking (OR = 21.393, CI [11.374-40.237], p < .001) had higher likelihood of being knowledgeable about the impact of passive smoking on OC and IF. Non-smoking women had higher likelihood of being knowledgeable about the impact of passive smoking on IF (OR = 32.039, CI [19.934-51.493], p < .001); and APO (OR = 1.784, CI [1.335- 2.384], p< .001) than smoking mothers. More women reported passive smoking, and had higher likelihood of being knowledgeable about the impact of passive smoking on OC, IF and APO than smoking mothers. Still sensitization of childbearing mothers about adverse effects of passive and active smoking should consider complications, impaired fecundity and delivery abnormalities as additional reasons to avoid STS, and thus prompt them to adopt prevention strategies. |