Child deaths have fallen in Brazil following complete smoking bans in public places, according to a new study.

Its authors, from Imperial College London, the Brazilian National Cancer Institute (INCA), and Erasmus Medical Centre in the Netherlands, estimate that strengthening smoke-free legislation between 2000 and 2016 in Brazil averted over 15,000 deaths in children under one year old.

The new research is published today, World Health Organisation World No Tobacco Day, in the journal Tobacco Control.

Children are particularly harmed from exposure to smoke. In the womb, it affects fetal development and can increase the risk of pre-term birth or low birth-weight. Infants and children exposed to second-hand smoke have a higher risk of respiratory infections, asthma, and sudden infant death.

The new research is the first to analyse the impact of different types of smoking bans on child health in a middle-income country. Its authors argue that governments elsewhere should act to strengthen smoke-free legislation, to help protect children’s’ lives. Only 20 percent of the world’s population is covered by complete smoking bans.

In 2014, Brazil implemented comprehensive smoke-free legislation across the country, banning smoking in all public areas that were partly or completely enclosed, including bars and restaurants. The study found this was associated with a 5.2 per cent reduction in infant mortality and a 3.4 per cent reduction in neonatal mortality, after taking into account underlying trends and other factors which could affect child health.

Story Source:
Materials provided by Imperial College London. Original written by Laura Gallagher. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.