Close X
Thursday, November 28, 2024
ADVT 
Health

Rising Cigarette Taxes Are Tied To Declines In US Infant Deaths, 11 Years Of Data Suggest

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 01 Dec, 2015 10:49 AM
    CHICAGO — When it costs more to smoke, fewer babies die, according to a new study that links rising cigarette taxes with declines in infant mortality, especially among blacks.
     
    With nearly 4 million annual births nationwide, the results suggest that a $1 increase in cigarette taxes would be expected to lead to 750 fewer infant deaths each year, the researchers said.
     
    Smoking during pregnancy can lead to complications including sometimes dangerous premature births and sudden infant death syndrome. U.S. smoking rates declined during years examined in the study — 1999 to 2010. The research, paid for by the National Institutes of Health, was published online Tuesday in the journal Pediatrics.
     
    THE STUDY
     
    Cigarettes are subject to state and federal excise taxes. Dr. Stephen Patrick of Vanderbilt University and colleagues examined data on changes in those taxes and cigarette prices from every state over 11 years. They also analyzed federal data on infant mortality in each state.
     
    Taxes per cigarette pack increased from 84 cents to $2.37 on average, adjusted for inflation. Infant mortality per 1,000 births decreased from about 7 deaths to 6 deaths on average. Among blacks, deaths declined from about 14 to 11 per 1,000 births.
     
    The researchers considered factors other than smoking that influence infant mortality, including family income and education, but still found a link with rising taxes.
     
     
    THE CONTEXT
     
    Almost 11 per cent of U.S. women smoke during pregnancy, federal data show. Previous studies have linked higher cigarette taxes with declines in smoking during pregnancy and with better newborn health. The researchers say their work is the first examining these taxes and U.S. infant mortality rates.
     
    Raising tobacco taxes is among strategies the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention supports to reduce smoking. A U.S. Surgeon General report last year said reducing smoking among pregnant women and women of reproductive age "remains a critical component of public health efforts to improve maternal and child health."
     
    LIMITATIONS
     
    The researchers say the taxes could have negative consequences for pregnant smokers who don't quit and can't afford to buy necessities because of high cigarette prices — a possibility the study didn't examine. The study lacked information on all variables that could affect infant mortality. Still, they say their study adds to evidence for policymakers to consider in seeking ways to reduce infant deaths.

    MORE Health ARTICLES

    Viagra Doesn't Cause Skin Cancer, Shows Study

    Viagra Doesn't Cause Skin Cancer, Shows Study
    Lifestyle factors, not Viagra, put users of erectile dysfunction drugs at higher risk of melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer, says a study.

    Viagra Doesn't Cause Skin Cancer, Shows Study

    Smoking Linked To Breast Cancer In Young Women

    Smoking Linked To Breast Cancer In Young Women
    Smoking may increase the risk of dying early in pre-menopausal women with breast cancer, a research said.

    Smoking Linked To Breast Cancer In Young Women

    Stillbirth In First Pregnancy Ups Risk On Second Time

    Stillbirth In First Pregnancy Ups Risk On Second Time
    Women who have experienced a stillbirth have up to a four-fold increased risk of stillbirth in a second pregnancy compared to those who had an initial live birth, says a new study led by an Indian-British scientist.

    Stillbirth In First Pregnancy Ups Risk On Second Time

    Early Stage Breast Cancer Patients Getting Too Many Imaging Tests: Study

    Early Stage Breast Cancer Patients Getting Too Many Imaging Tests: Study
    Guidelines say that women diagnosed with Stage 1 or Stage 2 breast cancer don't need additional MRIs or CT scans because the risk that their cancer has spread is very low.

    Early Stage Breast Cancer Patients Getting Too Many Imaging Tests: Study

    15 Per Cent Of Kids Who Have An Anaphylactic Reaction Have Delayed 2nd Reaction

    15 Per Cent Of Kids Who Have An Anaphylactic Reaction Have Delayed 2nd Reaction
    TORONTO — A new study suggests about 15 per cent of children who have a severe allergic reaction that involves anaphylaxis can actually have a second reaction hours after the first.

    15 Per Cent Of Kids Who Have An Anaphylactic Reaction Have Delayed 2nd Reaction

    Commercialisation Of Yoga: Boon Or Bane?

    Commercialisation Of Yoga: Boon Or Bane?
    While commercialisation has surged the popularity of yoga, glamourising it to suit modern taste, this has also taken away the authenticity of the age-old discipline, say experts.

    Commercialisation Of Yoga: Boon Or Bane?