PREGNANCY COMPLICATIONS IN WOMEN ADDICTED TO PAAN, GUTKA, CHALIA AND NASWAR.

J Peop Univ Med Health Sci. 2025:15(3), 64-70. http://doi.org/10.46536/jpumhs/2025/15.03.659

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The consumption of psychoactive substances during pregnancy remains a
pressing global health concern. OBJECTIVE: This paper explores the impact of smokeless
tobacco (SLT) products such as gutka, paan, naswar or chalia on pregnancy outcome in Karachi
Pakistan. METHODS: We conducted a cross sectional observational study at Gynecology and
Obstetrics Department of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital from June to December 2024. At the time of the
study, pregnant women who had developed an addiction to SLT were included. Such patients should
have consumed at least one gutka packet per day for a period of more than a year. The demography
and clinical examination were assessed in a systematic way including assessment of anemia by
complete blood count (CBC). Exclusion criteria included any woman who smoked tobacco or who
was suffering from anemia unrelated to tobacco use. We carried out statistical analysis by using SPSS
v23. 0 using chi-square tests, odd ratio and independent sample t-tests. RESULTS: SLT use during
pregnancy was significantly associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes with major
complications including anemia (p<0. 05), preterm delivery (p <0. 05), and congenital defects (p<0.
05). Prevalence of anemia did not appear to correlate with long-term SLT addiction. These data
indicate the serious risks associated with SLT use during pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Smoking less
tobacco during pregnancy poses serious health risks to women owing to abortion in spontaneous
manner (stuck baby syndrome), still births, preterm delivery and low birth weight. This is to augment
maternal and neonatal health issues prevalent in Karachi. This study highlights that urgent steps need
to be taken in public health to mitigate this problem including efforts at awareness building, policy
implementation and culturally sensitive cessation counseling.