Kentucky Ranks Among Top States For Reducing Maternal Smoking, New Study Finds

A recent study by the Birth Injury Lawyers Group says that Kentucky is now one of the best states in the country for making pregnancies smoke-free.

It is the fourth best state in the country for lowering the number of mothers who smoke. The study looked at data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from 2016 to 2021. It found that the percentage of pregnant women in Kentucky who smoked dropped from 18.4% in 2016 to 12.7% in 2021, a drop of 5.7 percentage points.

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This was one of the biggest improvements in the country during that time. The study figured out the percentage-point decline in smoking among mothers in each state to find out where pregnant women were avoiding tobacco more and more.

A representative for the Birth Injury Lawyers Group stated in a statement, “Smoking during pregnancy poses serious risks to both mother and baby, including premature birth, low birth weight, birth defects, and even pregnancy loss.” “Every percentage-point drop means healthier pregnancies and better outcomes for babies.”

The gains in Kentucky are a result of an increasing public health effort across the state, especially in rural and low-income areas where smoking rates have historically been higher. Public health advocates credit the improvement to increased outreach, education, and better access to cessation programs integrated into prenatal care.

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While Kentucky still has one of the highest overall maternal smoking rates in the nation, the study highlights that progress is possible—and significant. Continued investment in health education, Medicaid-supported cessation therapy, and culturally appropriate outreach activities are anticipated to significantly reduce these rates in the coming years.

The study was undertaken by the Birth Injury Lawyers Group, a law practice that specializes in defending families affected by birth injuries and pregnancy-related difficulties. The organization based its conclusions on CDC maternal smoking data contained in a publicly available dataset and advocates continuous funding for evidence-based public health strategies.

For more on the study and to examine the whole dataset, visit: www.birthinjurylawyers.com

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This article appears in Jul 4-31, 2025.