In the U.S. and Florida, smoking among pregnant women consistently declined during the 1990s, and these reductions were greater and more consistent in Florida than the national average. Important differences remain. Smoking among pregnant youth declined more slowly and increased in 1999. During 1999, smoking while pregnant also varied in the U.S. by race and ethnicity with American Indian women (20%) and non-Hispanic white women (15.7%) most likely to smoke, followed by Non-Hispanic black (9.1%), Hispanic (3.7%) and Asian or Pacific Islanders (2.9%). The largest declines were among populations with the lowest smoking levels – Asian or Pacific Islanders (47%), Hispanic (45%), Non-Hispanic black (42%), Non-Hispanic white (25%), American Indian (11%).⁽¹⁾

Figure 80: Percent of Low Birth Weight Babies Born to U.S. Smoking and Non-Smoking Pregnant Women, 1999(1)) Source: Matthews, TJ. Smoking During Pregnancy, 1990-96 and Smoking During Pregnancy in the 1990's. National Vital Statistics Reports; Vol 49 no 7. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/releases/01news/smokpreg.htm

Figure 81: Smoking in U.S. and Florida Pregnant 15 to 19-Year-Olds, 1990-99(1))