Background:Smokeless tobacco is an established cause of adverse pregnancy
outcome. Preterm deliveries are quite high(14%) in our country and approximately
39% women in Bangladesh use smokeless tobacco (ST).
Objective: To determine the outcome of maternal smokeless tobacco ingestion during
pregnancy in delivery of preterm babies.
Methods: A retrospective case control study was carried out in the department of
Pediatrics & department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Dhaka Medical College
Hospital between July 2010 to June 2011. Immediately after admission, detailed
history of the newborn baby & mother was taken. A total of 100 cases (preterm
babies) and 100 suitably matched controls (sick term neonates) were enrolled. Every
case satisfying the selection criteria (inclusion & exclusion criteria) was enrolled in
the study. The mother was asked whether she used to use smokeless tobacco
(jorda, shada or gul) during pregnancy and about frequency and duration of ingestion
of ST.