Smoking pregnant Māori women needs support

Tobacco inquiry report reiterates need for concerted effort to support pregnant Māori women to quit smoking

Māori SIDS applauds the Māori Affairs Select Committee report findings. The report strongly encourages targeted campaigns to reduce smoking amongst the 65,000 Māori women of child bearing age who are currently smoking.

Approximately forty Māori babies die every year from Sudden Unexplained Death in Infancy (SUDI) with maternal smoking present in 46% of these cases. Smoking while pregnant delivers toxic chemicals such as carbon dioxide to the baby. This deprives baby of oxygen to grow healthy and strong.

“Supportive intervention methods, campaigns and cessation programs targeted for pregnant Māori women will reduce Māori maternal smoking rates, which will result in the reduction of SUDI rates for our babies”, says Kodi Hapi, General Manager, Māori SIDS.

“We therefore wholeheartedly support the findings to reduce smoking amongst Māori pregnant women and encourage Māori women to be smoke-free before they become pregnant”.

Some of the ways families can protect their babies from SUDI include:

• Keep baby smoke free in the womb and after birth

• Sleep baby face up, face clear (on their back)
• Use a firm mattress without pillows
• Use a safe sleep place such as cot, wahakura or bassinette
• Breastfeeding is best

Māori babies are dying at a rate that cannot be ignored therefore Māori SIDS demand that the findings from this report be implemented immediately. “This action may save the lives of innocent babies” says Kodi.

Papa Nahi

Māori SIDS National Prevention Service

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