This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Singleton, E. G. Articles by Kelly, L. M. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Racial Differentials in the Impact of Maternal Cigarette Smoking During Pregnancy on Fetal Development and Mortality: Concerns for Black Psychologists

Howard University

Jules P. Harrell

Howard University

Lily M. Kelly

Howard University

Data from more than 60,000 births in the United States were reevaluated by statistical power analysis to determine if racial differentials existed in the impact of maternal cigarette smoking during pregnancy on low birth weight and infant mortality. The risk of mortality was significantly greater for infants of Black maternal smokers than Black nonsmokers. But the same relationship was not evident for Whites. The most dramatic increase in mortality was exhibited among infants of Black mothers who smoked more than one pack of cigarettes per day. Recent estimates indicate that the rate of smoking among pregnant Blacks now surpasses that of Whites, and the number of Black women who smoke more than one pack of cigarettes per day during pregnancy has increased. Racism, sexism, and associated increased levels of psychosocial stress appear to be implicated in the etiology of these racial differentials.

Journal of Black Psychology, Vol. 12, No. 2, 71-83 (1986)
DOI: 10.1177/009579848601200203


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?