Syracuse (WSYR-TV) – Banning smoking in public places has been very good for pregnant women, according to the Belgian study.
Researchers wanted to know the effects of the country’s three-stage smoking ban:
- Phase one: Banned smoking in public places
- Phase two: Banned smoking in restaurants
- Phase three: Banned smoking in bars that serve food
Among the 600,000 births over the last decade, after each phase, there was a decline in the pre-term birth rate, defined as birth before 37 weeks.
The births are linked to adverse health outcomes for the child.
The biggest decline followed the ban on smoking in restaurants.
