A Michigan League for Public Policy Report shows an increase in the number of pregnant smokers in Michigan from 18% in 2008 to 21% in 2014. Smoking among pregnant women has been blamed for the increasing number of premature births and infant deaths in the country today. In a press release, Michigan Kids Count Project Director Alicia Guevara Warren said this data is surprising considering the availability of information on the dangers of smoking especially among pregnant women.
Michigan has 83 counties and 78 of these have reported an increase in the number of pregnant smokers from 2004 to 2014. Up to 15 counties including Luce, Delta, Benzie, Alger, Gratiot, Alcona and Crawford have had at least a 10% increase in the number of pregnant smokers during this period, with an up to 14% increase in Roscommon County and Montmorency County,
MLive said the number of preterm births in Michigan has increased from 10% in 2008 to 12% in 2014. The increase is attributed to the cutbacks in the budget for programs on smoking prevention and cessation which was pegged at 34% from the 2008 budget to only $3.78 Million. Research shows that smoking prevention campaign should focus on teenagers since most smokers start the habit before they reach 18 years old.
A report by the Michigan League for Public Policy indicated that pregnant smokers are usually white people in rural communities who were not able to get a proper education. However, the same report also shows that Latina pregnant smokers also increased by 46% during the said period. In the end, it all boils down to educating teenagers and women on the dangers of smoking.
WOOD TV said the report had some good news including a 10% reduction in repeated births involving teenagers, a 30% reduction in the number of births involving women below 20 years old and a 21% reduction in the number of births involving mothers without a diploma in high school.
