[Preconceptional cigarette smoking and other risk factors for giving birth to a child with orofacial cleft].

Evidence suggests an association between orofacial clefts and maternal smoking, common cold, and stressful life events. 247 mothers of children with an orofacial cleft completed a self-administered survey with questions concerning obstetric history. Of these, 29.6% were smokers in pre-conceptional period. 6.3%, 5.2% and 25.2% of participants reported working exposure to solvents, stressful life events, and common cold in the early pregnancy, respectively. Differences were seen between smokers and non-smokers for preconceptional folic acid supplementation (5.6% vs. 19.9%), multivitamin use (2.8% vs. 6.4%), pre-conceptional health care utilization (15.3% vs. 30.4%), and late enrollment for prenatal care (> 12 weeks of gestation; 6.2% vs. 1.9%). Improved lifestyles of women of childbearing age is required.