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Smoking in pregnancy

Introduction

Smoking in pregnancy has well known detrimental effects for the growth and development of the baby and health of the mother. Smoking during pregnancy can cause serious pregnancy-related health problems. These include complications during labour and an increased risk of miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth, low birth-weight and sudden unexpected death in infancy.

The Tobacco Control Plan contains a national ambition to reduce the rate of smoking throughout pregnancy to 6% or less by the end of 2022 (measured at time of giving birth). The inclusion of this indicator will ensure that the local tobacco control activity is appropriately focused on pregnant women, in order to try to achieve this national ambition.[1]

Statistics on Women's Smoking Status at Time of Delivery are published on a quarterly basis by NHS Digital to monitor the prevalence of smoking in pregnancy.

Key findings

Smoking Status at Time of Delivery (2024/25)

  • Lancashire-12 area's Smoking Status at Time of Delivery (SATOD) rate (7.5%*) remains significantly higher than the England rate (6.1%). However, the recent trend (based on most recent five years), in line with the national and regional picture, is showing a decline.

  • Blackpool (13.1%) has one of the highest SATOD rates in the country, although the recent trend is showing a decline. In Blackburn with Darwen, 5.8% of pregnant women are known to be smokers at the time of delivery, with the recent trend showing a decline. Blackpool's SATOD rate is significantly higher than the England rate and Blackburn with Darwen's SATOD rate is similar to the England rate.

  • Across the Lancashire-12 districts, in Rossendale, Pendle, Hyndburn, Burnley (9.1%) and Ribble Valley (8.5%), the rate of pregnant women known to be smokers at the time of delivery is significantly higher than the England rate.

SATOD (Maternity Services Dataset - MSDS based) (current method) (2025/26)

  • Lancashire-12 area's SATOD rate based on MSDS (5.8%) remains significantly higher than the England rate (4.2%).

  • Blackburn with Darwen's (3.7%) MSDS based SATOD rate is similar to the England rate and Blackpool's (10.8%) is significantly higher than the England rate and also one of the highest in the country.

  • Across the Lancashire-12 districts, in Lancaster (8.6%), Hyndburn (6.9%), Burnley (6.8%), Wyre (6.2%), Pendle (6.2%), Rossendale (5.7%) and Preston (5.4%) SATOD rate based on MSDS is significantly higher than the England rate. Please click here for further information.

  • Smoking status is not recorded for all maternities, so caution is advised when comparing smoking prevalence between areas or with previous reporting periods. In the Lancashire-12 area, smoking status at the time of delivery is unknown for 7.0% of women (England=7.1%). The proportion with unknown smoking status varies considerably across Lancashire-12 districts, ranging from 1.6% in Rossendale to 14.8% in Chorley. In Blackburn with Darwen, smoking status is unknown at the time of delivery for 1.8% of women, while the corresponding figure for Blackpool is 10.1%. [2]

*Data quality issues with this value

[1] Towards a Smokefree Generation -A Tobacco Control Plan for England 

[2] Statistics on Women's Smoking Status at Time of Delivery: Data tables

For further information, at county, UA and district level, please see below.

Page updated November 2026