What is it about?
Secondhand smoke is tobacco smoke breathed in by people who are not smoking themselves. During pregnancy, this exposure may affect both the mother and the developing baby. In this study, we surveyed women who had recently delivered in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, to understand how often pregnant women were exposed to secondhand smoke and whether this exposure was linked to preterm birth. We found that more than one quarter of the women reported exposure to tobacco smoke during pregnancy. Many exposures occurred at home, often because husbands or other household members smoked indoors. The study found that women exposed to secondhand smoke had about twice the odds of preterm birth compared with women who were not exposed. These findings suggest that protecting pregnant women from tobacco smoke at home and in public places may help reduce preventable risks to newborn health.
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Why is it important?
Preterm birth is a major cause of newborn illness and death worldwide, and many surviving infants may face long-term health and developmental challenges. This study is important because it highlights secondhand smoke exposure as a potentially preventable risk factor for preterm birth in Saudi Arabia. The findings are especially relevant because many pregnant women may not smoke themselves but may still be exposed to tobacco smoke in their homes. The study supports the need for stronger smoke-free home practices, routine screening for secondhand smoke exposure during antenatal care, and smoking cessation support for husbands and other household members. Reducing secondhand smoke exposure is a practical family-level and public-health action that may help protect mothers and babies.
Perspectives
This article is important because it focuses on a preventable exposure that can affect pregnancy outcomes even when the pregnant woman herself does not smoke. In our setting, many women may be exposed to tobacco smoke through household members, particularly husbands, and may have limited ability to avoid this exposure. I hope this work encourages healthcare providers to ask more directly about secondhand smoke during pregnancy and to involve families in prevention. Creating smoke-free homes should be viewed as a shared responsibility to protect mothers, babies, and the wider family.
Dr Abdulmohsen H Al-Zalabani
Taibah University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Associations Between Secondhand Smoke Exposure During Pregnancy and Preterm Birth, Journal of Clinical Medicine, June 2025, MDPI AG,
DOI: 10.3390/jcm14124325.
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