Effects of cigarette smoke on fetal and infant development
Lead Research Organisation:
Durham University
Department Name: Psychology
Abstract
Smoking during pregnancy, causes detrimental developmental outcomes post-birth, which is of major concern with only 47% of women successfully quitting during pregnancy. Although it is known that smoking in pregnancy is the cause of a range of
detrimental developmental outcomes, including learning difficulties, attentional problems and poor lung development.
Research directly examining prenatal effects of smoking on behaviour and following up these same behaviours postnatally
has never been tested. All infants will be tested with the Bayley-Scales-of-Infant-Development at 2 months post-birth on
motor and socio-emotional behaviours. Previous research has used these scales designed to assess development from 1
months of age. Differences between infants exposed to nicotine pre-birth controlling for post-birth exposure and non exposed
infants will be assessed. Association between levels of cigarette smoke exposure will be assessed in relation to infant motor performance as well as, socio-emotional performance and compared to non-exposed infants. Mixed model ANOVAs will assess differences between groups using maternal stress, depression and anxiety as covariates.
- Study 1: Effects of exposure to cigarette smoke on fetal movement at 32 and 36 weeks gestation.
- Study 2: Parental understanding of fetal and infant movement in relation to smoke exposure.
- Study 3: Postnatal effects of prenatal exposure to nicotine on infant development (motor and socio-emotion).
- Study 4: Longitudinal relationship between fetal and infant movement in relation to exposure to nicotine controlling for maternal stress, depression and anxiety.
detrimental developmental outcomes, including learning difficulties, attentional problems and poor lung development.
Research directly examining prenatal effects of smoking on behaviour and following up these same behaviours postnatally
has never been tested. All infants will be tested with the Bayley-Scales-of-Infant-Development at 2 months post-birth on
motor and socio-emotional behaviours. Previous research has used these scales designed to assess development from 1
months of age. Differences between infants exposed to nicotine pre-birth controlling for post-birth exposure and non exposed
infants will be assessed. Association between levels of cigarette smoke exposure will be assessed in relation to infant motor performance as well as, socio-emotional performance and compared to non-exposed infants. Mixed model ANOVAs will assess differences between groups using maternal stress, depression and anxiety as covariates.
- Study 1: Effects of exposure to cigarette smoke on fetal movement at 32 and 36 weeks gestation.
- Study 2: Parental understanding of fetal and infant movement in relation to smoke exposure.
- Study 3: Postnatal effects of prenatal exposure to nicotine on infant development (motor and socio-emotion).
- Study 4: Longitudinal relationship between fetal and infant movement in relation to exposure to nicotine controlling for maternal stress, depression and anxiety.
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ES/P000762/1 | 01/10/2017 | 30/09/2027 | |||
| 1901496 | Studentship | ES/P000762/1 | 01/10/2017 | 16/06/2021 | Suzanne Froggatt |
| Description | A systematic review and meta-analysis has been conducted to investigate the effects of prenatal cigarette exposure and the impact this has on infant neurobehaviour under one year of age. Six databases were searched (Web of Science Core Collections, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, EBSCOhost ebook collection and Opengrey) in November 2018. 17 eligible studies were identified involving 19,162 infants (5,672 prenatally exposed to cigarettes) across six countries, using nine different assessments of neurorbehaviour (NNNS, NBAS, Carey Infant Temperament Scale, Infant-Behaviour Questionnaire-Revised, Graham-Rosenblith Behavioural Examination, Lab-TAB, Finnegan Withdraws Scale, Neurological Scores and the NTA). Results indicated that 8 our of 10 areas of neurorbehaviour are impacted by prenatal exposure to cigarettes. Negative affect, attention, excitability, irritability and orientation having a significant medium pooled effect size. Muscle tone, regulation and difficult temperament having a significant small pooled effect size. Stress and lethargy were not affected by prenatal cigarette exposure. To conclude, prenatal cigarette exposure affects a significant range of behaviours during the first year of life. |
| Exploitation Route | The area of infant neurobehaviour in the context of smoking during pregnancy if often not included in healthcare information leaflets due to the emphasis on health related outcomes. The results from the review provide an insight into how an infants behaviour is affected due to prenatal cigarette exposure. This information could be used by healthcare professionals to provide pregnant women with further information of the effects prenatal smoking has on the infant. Academically, the review provides concrete evidence that across countries prenatal cigarette smoking impacts infant neurobehvaiour and provides a source of reference for researchers aiming to investigate this topic area further. |
| Sectors | Education,Healthcare |
| Title | Fetal and infant data |
| Description | The database is being developed for not only the use of my research, but will be able to be used for other member of the research team. All information in the database is anonymised and participants agreed that such information could be used for additional future research projects. Information in the database includes information on maternal characteristics (e.g. age, stress scores, depression score, anxiety score, attachment score), fetal information (20 week head circumference measurement, weeks gestation, gender, individual frequency of each facial movement), birth information (gestation, birth weight, Apgar scores, method of delivery) and infant behavioural data. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The database will be used in order to aid understanding of the research outcomes. |
| Description | The James Cook University Hospital |
| Organisation | James Cook University Hospital |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| PI Contribution | Outcomes and conclusions from the research will be presented to the hospital, with the aim that some of the conclusions could be discussed in practise. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The obstetric consultant is an external supervisor to the research project, providing his expertise and knowledge in the field of work. For this project, the sonographers at the hospital provide the 4D ultrasound scans using the hospital equipment. |
| Impact | At present none. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | JCUH Network meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The purpose of the meeting was for local researchers in the health field to provide an update for neonatal staff at the hospital and the clinical network. Approximately 40 health professionals were in attendance. I presented the aims of the project and preliminary data along with the next steps. Feedback was subsequently gathered regarding the relevance, interest and significance of the research presented. The presentation I gave rated top for half of the respondents. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | March Society Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The conference was for researchers assessing perinatal mental health and included International researchers. I presented preliminary findings from the research project. The presentation led to interesting discussions with others in a similar field of work who were in attendance of the conference. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |