Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Smoking in pregnancy may make kids criminals

PARIS: Mothers who puff a pack a day or more while pregnant run upto 30% higher risk of having kids who become criminal offenders, according to a study which was published on Tuesday. 

The link held true even after other factors statistically associated with criminal behaviour — mental illness, family problems, poverty — were ruled out, the study found. 

Researchers at Harvard School of Public Health reviewed the health and criminal records of 4,000 Americans between 33 and 40 years old. Information was collected about the smoking habits of their mothers, who were enrolled in the study between 1959 and 1966. 

Children whose mothers smoked at least 20 cigarettes per day while expectant were 30% likelier to end up with a criminal record, and were also likelier to be repeat offenders.

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