The Effects of Smoking In Pregnant Women A Capstone Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Healthcare Administration PURDUE UNIVERSITY GLOBAL September 4, 2018 The Effects of Smoking in Pregnant Women Background The following section highlights some historical and reviewed information or material on smoking during pregnancy, and some of the effects the practice has not only on the unborn children but also on the mothers. Most people associate smoking with heart disease, cancer and major health conditions that have been documented in different scholarly materials. Smoking during the period of pregnancy is attributed to additional health challenges most of which are connected with the well-being of the unborn child (Banderali et al., 2015). It has been documented that smoking cigarettes is the leading cause of preventable deaths in several parts of the country and the rest of the world. Estimated figures of smoking prevalence during pregnancy are most of the time derived from self-reported data and information. Validation of these data and information using biochemical markers like cotinine has most of the time shown that women who are pregnant may hide their smoking especially when they understand the kind of reactions they could be exposed to. As a result, the self-reported smoking prevalence data and information during pregnancy is underestimated (Banderali et al., 2015). Since negative attitudes towards maternal smoking have been on the increasing trend over the recent past, the validity and credibility of self-reported smoking data and information may be of special attention (Banderali et al., 2015). This literature perspective brings forth an understanding on the consequences of smoking during pregnancy from the perspective of brain functioning and how the developing fetus is likely to be affected by the common practice. Banderali et al. (2015) stress that mothers often want healthy babies full of life and with a high brain capacity. However, smoking has been illustrated to have an immediate impact on how the fetus is developed and how the capacity of the brain is affected. Environmental factors can massively modulate genetically programmed development of the brain during the fetal life, and maternal smoking is a harmful factor (Banderali et al., 2015). It is saddening that while pregnant mothers and other people in the society have widespread and detailed knowledge and information on the consequences of smoking on the development of the fetus, statistics still show that more than 20 percent of women in this category continue with the practice in several parts of the world, Europe and United States not left behind (Ekblad, Korkeila & Lehtonen, 2015). Statistics speculate that women and first-time mothers especially those coming from low-income families are worst hit by the effects of smoking during pregnancy, as compared to the older women who have had mo.

1. The Effects of Smoking In Pregnant Women
A Capstone Presented in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree
Master of Healthcare Administration
PURDUE UNIVERSITY GLOBAL
September 4, 2018
The Effects of Smoking in Pregnant Women
Background
The following section highlights some historical and
reviewed information or material on smoking during pregnancy,
and some of the effects the practice has not only on the unborn
children but also on the mothers. Most people associate smoking
with heart disease, cancer and major health conditions that have
been documented in different scholarly materials. Smoking
during the period of pregnancy is attributed to additional health
challenges most of which are connected with the well-being of
the unborn child (Banderali et al., 2015). It has been
documented that smoking cigarettes is the leading cause of
preventable deaths in several parts of the country and the rest of
the world. Estimated figures of smoking prevalence during
pregnancy are most of the time derived from self-reported data
and information.

2. Validation of these data and information using biochemical
markers like cotinine has most of the time shown that women
who are pregnant may hide their smoking especially when they
understand the kind of reactions they could be exposed to. As a
result, the self-reported smoking prevalence data and
information during pregnancy is underestimated (Banderali et
al., 2015). Since negative attitudes towards maternal smoking
have been on the increasing trend over the recent past, the
validity and credibility of self-reported smoking data and
information may be of special attention (Banderali et al., 2015).
This literature perspective brings forth an understanding on the
consequences of smoking during pregnancy from the perspective
of brain functioning and how the developing fetus is likely to be
affected by the common practice. Banderali et al. (2015) stress
that mothers often want healthy babies full of life and with a
high brain capacity. However, smoking has been illustrated to
have an immediate impact on how the fetus is developed and
how the capacity of the brain is affected. Environmental factors
can massively modulate genetically programmed development
of the brain during the fetal life, and maternal smoking is a
harmful factor (Banderali et al., 2015). It is saddening that
while pregnant mothers and other people in the society have
widespread and detailed knowledge and information on the
consequences of smoking on the development of the fetus,
statistics still show that more than 20 percent of women in this
category continue with the practice in several parts of the
world, Europe and United States not left behind (Ekblad,
Korkeila & Lehtonen, 2015).
Statistics speculate that women and first-time mothers
especially those coming from low-income families are worst hit
by the effects of smoking during pregnancy, as compared to the
older women who have had more than one baby (Ekblad,
Korkeila & Lehtonen, 2015).The authors argue that in the case
of teenage pregnancies, the depression and pressure from the
families can drive the young girls into smoking as a way of
relieving the stress and “becoming normal.” While another

3. percentage of the teenagers smoke because it is considered
“cool.”
The highest rates of smoking, according to Banderali
et al. (2015) during pregnancy is often seen in teenage women,
with more than 50 percent of them following the smoking
bandwagon. In the recent past, we have had breakthroughs of
increased knowledge of the potential negative consequences that
smoking may have on the later psychological development of
the child, which has the possibility of extending into adulthood
as demonstrated in the available literature (Banderali et al.,
2015). In their study, Hollams, De Klerk, Holt and Sly (2014),
elaborate that compared to children born to non-smokers,
infants who are born to smoking mothers are three times likely
to be exposed to the risk of developing attention-deficit
hyperactivity disorder.
References
Banderali et al. (2015). Short and long term health effects of
parental tobacco smoking during
pregnancy and lactation: a descriptive review. Journal of
translational medicine, 13(1), 327.
Ekblad, M., Korkeila, J., & Lehtonen, L. (2015). Smoking
during pregnancy affects foetal
brain development. Acta paediatrica, 104(1), 12-18.
Hollams, E. M., De Klerk, N. H., Holt, P. G., & Sly, P. D.
(2014). Persistent effects of
Maternal smoking during pregnancy on lung function and
asthma in adolescents.
American Journal of respiratory and critical care medicine,
189(4), 401-407.
Running Head: The Study of Effects of Smoking in Pregnant
Women

4. 1
The Study of Effects of Smoking in Pregnant Women
4
The Study of Effects of Smoking in Pregnant Women
A Capstone Proposal Presented in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree
Master of Healthcare Administration
Purdue Global University
A Study of Effects of Smoking in Pregnant Women
Smoking during pregnancy carries considerable dangers to both
mother and the unborn baby. Prenatal exposure to maternal
cigarette smoking (PEMCS) is linked, therefore, with many
different obstetric complications such as an augmented danger
of ectopic pregnancy, fetal development limitation, placental
previa and abruption, preterm premature rip apart of the
membranes, preterm delivery, unexpected newborn death
syndrome, and oral facial clefts among others. Despite these
risks, women still smoke during pregnancy. There is, therefore,
a great need to develop policies and interventions such as
discovering what can help the women to cease smoking, in order
to reduce these risks. As such, alternatives such as the use of
electronic cigarettes can be introduced to the pregnant smokers.
Treatment for smoking can also be offered to women during
pregnancy.
Background
The following section will discuss the background of the topic.
Smoking during pregnancy exposes the mother and unborn child
to great risks. Prenatal exposure to maternal cigarette smoking
(PEMCS) is linked, therefore, with many different obstetric

5. complications. According to Bauld (2017), the complications
could range from an augmented danger of ectopic pregnancy,
fetal development limitation, placental previa and abruption,
preterm premature rip apart of the membranes, preterm delivery,
unexpected newborn death syndrome, and oral facial clefts.
Anblagan et al., (2013) includes more risks such as the
development of respiratory diseases, gestational bleeding,
obesity and obesity associated disorders like cardiovascular as
well as diabetes results that start when the child reaches
puberty. However, intrauterine growth restriction is the most
common of them all. Considering all these risks and the fact
that women who smoke carry on with this habit during
pregnancy, there is a great need to develop policies and
interventions that would address this matter. As such, there is
need to discover what can be given to these women to help in
cessation.
General Problem Statement
The general problem is that there are limited researches that
detail about smoking patterns in pregnant women. A research by
Eiden et al., (2013) indicates a shifting trajectory in pregnant
smokers and major changes in due course within each trajectory.
This element is important as it has the prospective to notify
timing of smoking cessation intervention. Specific Problem
Statement
The specific problem is that there is little information about the
stability of cessation efforts on the elements that distinguish
women who effectively minimize smoking during their
pregnancy in comparison to the persistent smokers who stop
later in pregnancy. For example, little is known about low-
income expectant smokers’ demographic factors such as
monetary challenges, psychological symptoms like anger and
depression, as well as increased supposed stress levels

6. (Goodwin et al., 2017). However, the study by Eiden et al.,
(2013) demonstrated that financially able pregnant smokers
demonstrated a change in trajectory with light moderate
smokers showing a considerable decline in smoking during
pregnancy. There is also no information regarding age in
pregnant smokers.Purpose Statement
The purpose of this research is to determine the relationship
that exists between low-income pregnant smokers and
financially stable pregnant smokers as well as the correlation
between different ages in pregnant smokers. As such, it should
determine if they demonstrate similar trajectories between
heavy smokers and light smokers during the course of
pregnancy.Research Questions
The research addressed the following research questions.
RQ1: Do low-income pregnant smokers demonstrate similar
trajectories as middle-income pregnant smokers?
RQ2: How does geographic location relate to the trajectory of
pregnant smokers?
RQ3: How does socioeconomic status relate to the trajectory of
pregnant smokers?
Hypotheses
The following null and alternative hypotheses served as the
foundation for the study:
H10: There is no correlation between low-income pregnant
smokers and middle-income pregnant smokers.

7. H1A: There is a correlation between low-income smokers and
middle-income smokers.
H20: There is no correlation between 18-35years old pregnant
smokers and 35-45 years old pregnant smokers.
H2o: There is correlation between 18-35years old pregnant
smokers and 35-45 years old pregnant smokers.References
Anblagan, D. et al. (July 3, 2013). Maternal Smoking during
pregnancy and Fetal Organ Growth: A Magnetic Resonance
Imaging Study. Plos One. Retrieved
fromhttps://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0067223
Bauld, L., & Oncken, C. (May 1, 2017). Nicotine & Tobacco
Research. Oxford University Press, 19(5), 495-496. Retrieved
from https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntx034
Eiden, R. D., Homish, G. G., Colder, C. R., Schuetze, P., Gray,
T. R., & Huestis, M. A. (2013). Changes in Smoking Patterns
During Pregnancy. Substance Use & Misuse, 48(7), 513–522.
Retrieved from http://doi.org/10.3109/10826084.2013.787091
Goodwin, R. et al. (April 11, 2017). Serious psychological
distress and smoking during pregnancy in the United States.
Nicotine Tob, 19(5), 605-614. Retrieved from
https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntw288
Wehby, G. L., Prater, K., McCarthy, A. M., Castilla, E. E., &
Murray, J. C. (2011). The Impact of Maternal Smoking during
Pregnancy on Early Child Neurodevelopment. Journal of Human
Capital, 5(2), 207–254. Retrieved from
http://doi.org/10.1086/660885
Running Head: PROJECT TITLE 1
PROJECT TITLE 2

8. Project Title Here
Student Name
A Capstone Presented in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree
Master of Healthcare Administration
PURDUE UNIVERSITY GLOBAL
September 4, 2018
Manuscript Title Here
Literature Review
This section is the literature review. You will need two to
three concepts to elaborate on relative to your research. This
paragraph is a brief overview of what a literature review is and
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Do not include other sections as the Proposal, Research
Questions, Hypothesis, Background, etc. This section is to be a
minimum of nine to fifteen (9-15) pages.Overview of Literature
Concept 1
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and other scholarly materials. Elaborate on one concept that
stood out to you as important for your manuscript. Overview of
Literature Concept 2

9. Research your topic in the library. Read articles, dissertations,
and other scholarly materials. Elaborate on one concept that
stood out to you as important for your manuscript. Overview of
Literature Concept 3
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Literature Concept 4 (more if needed)
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stood out to you as important for your manuscript.
References
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