Scottish Cities

Maternal smoking, Scottish cities

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There has been a steady and marked downward trend in the level of maternal smoking across Scotland, resulting in a decrease from 25% in 2000/01 to 15% in 2015/16. However, since then there has been a slight increase to 17% in 2018/19.

Glasgow's level of maternal smoking has decreased to a greater extent, with a reduction from 31% in 2000/01 to 13% in 2015/16. In the most recent period, 2018/19, there has been a slight increase to around 15%. Glasgow’s rate has been below the Scottish average since 2009/10. Dundee has consistently higher rates of maternal smoking throughout the time period with 26% in the most recent period 2018/19.

Notes

At the Health Visitor's first visit to a newborn baby and mother (usually within the first two weeks), the mother is asked whether she is currently smoking. The responses are recorded in the Child Health Surveillance Programme Pre-School and have been analysed here and used as a proxy for smoking during pregnancy. Visits for which a response to the smoking question has not been recorded have been included in the denominator.