220 



Chart 16 



Chart 16 details how many pregnant women in the Medicaid population continue to smoke. 

 These figures reflect an assumption that the 15% of Medicaid women stop smoking when they 

 realize they are pregnant (the percentage that applies to women in lower socio-economic 

 categories) as contrasted with a 21 % decrease in smoking for women of higher socio-economic 

 status. 



The higher female to male ratio in the Medicaid population than in the general U.S. population, 

 combined with a higher rate of cigarette smoking for Medicaid women during their reproductive 

 years, contribute to the high Medicaid costs for birth complications and disorders. 



-49- 



