A study of more than 8,500 women by the Institute of Child Health atUniversity College London found that for every five years they spent inthe UK, immigrant mothers were 32 per cent more likely to smoke duringpregnancy and 5 per cent less likely to breastfeed for at least fourmonths.
Professor Catherine Law, one of the study's authors, said, 'We weresurprised at the speed of change. It shows that women from ethnicminorities are being influenced by the same messages that encourageother women to adopt behaviours that aren't in the best interests oftheir children or themselves.
'There are likely to be a number of factors involved, such as marketing,advertising and peer group pressure.'
Researchers found that immigrant women and those from ethnic minoritieswere less prone to smoking or drinking alcohol during pregnancy thanwhite British or Irish women, at 15 per cent and 37 per centrespectively.
Breastfeeding rates four months after childbirth were higher amongethnic minority mothers, at 40 per cent, compared with only 27 per centamong white British or Irish mothers.
The report, published in the British Medical Journal, warned that healthprofessionals should not underestimate the likelihood of women adoptingunhealthy habits, regardless of their ethnicity. They said the researchwas an important first step in developing programmes and policies thatpromote the health of immigrant women and their children.
- Further information
The report, 'Influence of moving to the UK on maternal behaviours', isavailable at www.bmj.com.
