ABSTRACT
Inhaling Environmental Tobacco Smoke [ETS], as a world health problem, threats the community especially mothers and newborns. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of passive tobacco smoking during pregnancy on mother and newborns. In this Cross sectional study, in one year, 641 non smoking women who refered to Rafsanjan Nicknafs hospital for bearing a singleton baby, were interviewed at least two hours after delivery using a structured check list. Based on history of exposure to ETS, the study samples were divided into two groups and then maternal and newborn outcomes in the two groups were compared. Exposure to ETS was reported among 25% [161] of respondents. The women exposed to ETS were less educated, multi gravid, had irregular prenatal care, older unemployed, lived in rural and in sum had low socio-economical status. They had higher rates of vaginal delivery [p=0.02], anemia [p=0.048] and preterm delivery [p=0.002]. But mother's exposure to ETS did not show any significant statistical relations with newborn weight, APGAR score, sex, anomaly and preeclampsia and the way of beginning the delivery Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in pregnancy probably increases the risk of preterm labor and maternal anemia