Statement of problem

Bridget was a pregnant woman, who had carried her unborn baby for nine (9) months. Upon delivery, the
doctors immediately noticed that the infant was drastically underweight than the average weight of a
baby at birth. When Bridget was questioned about her unhealthy habits, Bridget indicated that she is a
smoker and was convinced that smoking didn’t affect her infant.

Hypothesis

Women who smoke are more likely to bear an infant with low birth weight.

Aim

To compare the birth weights of infants from women who are smokers and non- smokers.

Material/apparatus

- Paper
- Printer
- computer

Method

1. Make a total of twelve (12) questionnaires with relevant information such as the weight of the
baby, how long the pregnancy lasted and the number of cigarettes smoked daily.

2. Print and distribute the six (6) questionnaires to both smokers and non-smokers at a clinic or
other places for the targeted population.

3. Collect all the questionnaires and with the data gathered, fill in the table provided.

Variables

Controlled – Number of cigarettes smoked daily

Independent – Mother for the infant

Dependent – Weight of the infant

Result Table

Smokers Non–Smokers

Infant No. of Weight of Length of No. of Weight of Length of

cigarettes Infant pregnancy cigarettes Infant pregnancy
smoked daily smoked daily
A
B
C
D
E
F

Limitation

The weight of the baby can be affected by the length of the pregnancy; some babies are born premature
(early) which weighs less that a baby born at nine (9) months.

Precaution

Take in to consideration if the mother is diagnosed with a disease not caused by smoking that may or may
not affect the weight of the infant.

Assumption

It can be assumed that women who smoke are likely to be bare a child that weighs less than that of a non-
smoker.