A call was made today for Maori women to quit smoking during pregnancy.
The Public Health Association's conference in Waitangi was told 50 per cent of Maori women still smoke and 80 per cent of this group continued to smoke during pregnancy.
Te Hotu Manawa Maori manager IreneWalker said the rate of Maori smoking during pregnancy must reduce.
"Even when pregnant Maori women quit smoking while they are carrying, their whanau may continue to smoke - exposing unborn children and their mothers to the dangers of second hand smoke.
"Given all of these factors it's hardly surprising then that Maori have the second highest rate of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in the world."
Smoking during pregnancy also accounted for higher rates of asthma, burns and fire deaths, childhood cancer, pneumonia, and developmental delay.
Ms Walker said an advertising campaign needed to be extended and traditional Maori practices could help.
"One of the things we are doing is revitalising traditional Maori birthing. This ritual is preceded by months of support for the mother, and this is the time when we can deal with issues like smoking.
"The ritual itself is far less traumatic for mother and child and involves whanau members. This means that we are placing the interests of the child at the centre of the extended family from the point of birth."
