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13 A reduction in smoking rates (England):
- a) during pregnancy; and
- b) among children.
a) A reduction in smoking rates during pregnancy.
Baseline and trends: Baseline year – 1995 – 23 per cent for England. Estimates are produced from the Infant Feeding Survey, conducted every five years. The most recent survey reported that, in 2005, 17 per cent of women continued to smoke throughout pregnancy in England (down from 19 per cent in 2000).
Results for Great Britain from 1985, 1990 and 1995 indicate that rates of smoking during pregnancy decreased from 30 per cent in 1985 to 23 per cent in 1995.
Definition: Proportion of women who continued to smoke throughout pregnancy. This includes all women who smoke at all during their pregnancy or in the year before conception, and who were smokers at the time of the baby’s birth.
The latest data shown on smoking in pregnancy are based on the Infant Feeding Survey (2005), which is currently carried out every five years. The Department of Health is planning to report smoking in pregnancy more frequently, through health visitor returns, in due course. However, the quality of this information is still being assessed.
Data source: Office for National Statistics Infant Feeding Surveys, 1985, 1990 and 1995 (data for Great Britain only are available from the 1985 and 1990 surveys); British Market Research Bureau Infant Feeding Survey 2000 and 2005.
Linked to Smoking Kills White Paper target: To reduce the percentage of women in England who smoke during pregnancy from 23 per cent to 15 per cent by 2010, with a fall to 18 per cent by 2005.
b) A reduction in smoking rates among children.
Baseline and trends: Baseline year – 1996 – 13 per cent. Smoking prevalence has fluctuated between 13 per cent and 9 per cent since 1992, with no clear trend over time. The most recent estimate is 9 per cent in 2006.
| 1984 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | Baseline 1996 |
1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13% | 10% | 10% | 12% | 13% | 11% | 9% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 9% | 9% | 9% | 9% |
Definition: Percentage of children aged 11–15 in England smoking cigarettes regularly. Regular smokers are defined as those who smoke at least one cigarette a week on average.
Data source: National Centre for Social Research/National Foundation for Educational Research, Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England in 2006: Headline figures.
Linked to Smoking Kills White Paper target: To reduce smoking among children in England from 13 per cent in 1996 to 9 per cent or less by 2010, with a fall to 11 per cent by 2005.
Further information
Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England in 2005:
http://www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/health-and-lifestyles-related-surveys/smoking-drinking-and-drug-use-among-young-people-in-england/drug-use-smoking-drinking-among-young-people-england-2005--publication-of-full-report
Drug Use, Smoking and Drinking Among Young People in England in 2006 – Headline Figures
http://www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/health-and-lifestyles-related-surveys/smoking-drinking-and-drug-use-among-young-people-in-england/smoking-drinking-and-drug-use-among-young-people-in-england-in-2006--release-of-headline-figures
Infant Feeding Survey 2005: Early Results
www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/health-and-lifestyles/infant-feeding-survey-2005/
Research Evidence
“Consultation on Under-Age Sale of Tobacco”
www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/13/67/33/04136733.pdf