Tobacco Use

Information on tobacco use during pregnancy became available on birth certificates for the first time in 1989 with revision of the U.S. Standard Birth Certificate. In 1989, 43 States and the District of Columbia collected data on tobacco use. The following States did not require the reporting of tobacco use in the standard format on the birth certificate: California, Indiana, Louisiana, Nebraska, New York, Oklahoma, and South Dakota. In 1990 information on tobacco use became available from Louisiana and Nebraska, increasing the number of reporting States to 45 and the District of Columbia. In 1991-93, with the addition of Oklahoma to the reporting area, information on tobacco use was available for 46 States and the District of Columbia; in 1994-98, 46 States, the District of Columbia, and New York City reported tobacco use; in 1999 information on tobacco use became available from Indiana and New York, increasing the number of reporting States to 48 and the District of Columbia; and in 2000-01, with the addition of South Dakota, the reporting area included 49 States and the District of Columbia. During 1989-2001 California did not require the reporting of tobacco use in the standard format on the birth certificate. The areas reporting tobacco use comprised 87 percent of the U.S. births in 1999-2001.

SOURCE: Health, United States

Related Links
Cigarette Smoking

This page last reviewed June 17, 2004