WHO Report: Tobacco Use Severely Harms Child Health and Development

A new World Health Organization (WHO) report, "Tobacco control to improve child health and development," released on March 16, 2021, in Geneva, urges increased awareness among healthcare practitioners and policymakers regarding the importance of strong tobacco control measures for protecting children's health and development.

Exposure to tobacco smoke during pregnancy and childhood is linked to birth defects, stillbirths, premature births, and infant deaths. Maternal smoking during pregnancy doubles the risk of sudden infant death, while exposure to secondhand smoke increases the risk of congenital malformations.

The report indicates that secondhand smoke causes approximately 1.2 million deaths annually, with 65,000 of these being children and adolescents under 15. Children whose caregivers smoke are nearly 70% more likely to experiment with smoking by age 15.

"Exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke affects children's survival, health, and development before and after birth," stated Dr. Bernadette Daelmans, Unit Head for Child Health and Development at WHO. "There is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke. It seriously harms a child's health and may drive a child to later engage in tobacco use, increasing the risk of serious health harms throughout life."

The report emphasizes that tobacco control is a cost-effective intervention for improving child health, calling for measures such as banning tobacco advertising, implementing 100% smoke-free environments, and raising tobacco taxes. Globally, 62 countries have already adopted comprehensive smoke-free policies to improve their children's chances of a healthier future.