3 times the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome than infants of nonsmoking pregnant mothers. For infants exposed to maternal smoking both during pregnancy and after birth, the risk of SIDS is 3 times the risk for infants not exposed. Annually, an estimated 150,000 to 300,000 cases of lower respiratory infection in infants and children are attributable to environmental tobacco smoke. Cigarette smoking has been associated with increased risk of entopic pregnancy. .
According to CDC date record, the total cost of adult smoking to Medicaid in 1997 was estimated to be more than $17 billion, or 12.1% of all Medicaid expenditures. This estimate does not include neonatal health care costs. Direct neonatal health care costs attributable to maternal smoking that were paid by Medicaid in 1996 are estimated to be more than $227 million. A fully covered comprehensive smoking cessation benefit cost less than $5.92 per member per year. A 15-minute counseling session provided to a pregnant woman by a nurse, along with written materials, costs approximately $6.00 per patient.
Lack of Program Evaluation.
Reviews uniformly conclude that promising pregnant women smoking projects exists but scientific evaluations are lacking because pregnant women who smoke are concealing their smoking behavior, it certainly a limitation to evaluating the program. Recent national survey data indicate that the goal of reducing smoking among pregnant women from 25% in 1985 to 10% by the 2000 was not met. While some reduction was achieved, about 20% of US women currently smoke during pregnancy. Rates are highest among unmarried women and for women with less than a high school education, with the smoking rate for low income, Medicaid enrollees estimated at approximately 35%. This translates to one in five US births/pregnancies, or 800,000 births per year. However, these survey data are likely to underestimate the true prevalence of smoking during pregnancy.