Women and children face significant health risks from both direct tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure. These risks include cardiovascular diseases, respiratory complications, asthma, and lung cancer in women, and pneumonia, respiratory issues, and developmental delays in children. In Bangladesh, many women use smokeless tobacco products, leading to oral cancer, dental and gum diseases, heart diseases, and pregnancy complications. A survey indicates that 24.8% of women in the country use smokeless tobacco, higher than men. Pregnant women who use tobacco face severe health risks for both themselves and their unborn children, including premature birth and low birth weight. Secondhand smoke exposure can cause pneumonia, asthma, ear infections, and sudden infant death syndrome in children, and increase the risk of miscarriage, low birth weight, and birth complications in pregnant women.
Health Risks for Women
Women who use tobacco products face increased risks of cardiovascular diseases, respiratory complications, asthma, and lung cancer. Smokeless tobacco use, common among women in Bangladesh, leads to oral cancer, dental and gum diseases, heart diseases, and pregnancy complications.
Health Risks for Children
Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at higher risk of pneumonia, asthma, ear infections, and sudden infant death syndrome. Pregnant women exposed to tobacco smoke face increased risks of miscarriage, low birth weight, and birth complications.
Impact on Pregnant Women and Fetuses
Tobacco use by pregnant women severely impacts both maternal and fetal health, leading to premature birth, low birth weight, and congenital defects such as cleft lip and palate.
