CHILD health in Scotland is among the worst in western Europe, according to a report that calls for the smoking ban to be extended to school grounds, playgrounds and all sports fields.

One-quarter of five-year-olds in the poorest areas of Scotland are already obese or overweight when they start school, with “little improvement” in the trend over the past decade.

Meanwhile infant mortality across the UK is higher than nearly all comparable western European countries including Ireland, Finland and the Czech Republic.

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The first ever snapshot comparing child health across the UK and Europe, carried out by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), found Scotland was performing better than the rest of the UK on key benchmarks such as tooth decay and vaccinations, but mothers north of the Border were more likely than those in England and on the Continent to smoke during pregnancy and around newborns.

Smoking during pregnancy can lead to a reduced birth-weight and lung function. It also increases the risk of cot death and a range of problems later in a child’s life, including obesity and asthma. The report found 19 per cent of mothers in Scotland smoked during pregnancy, compared to five per cent in countries including Lithuania and Sweden.

Pregnant women in the most deprived areas of Scotland were also more than six times as likely to smoke compared to expectant mothers in the wealthiest sectors.

Dr Steve Turner, RCPCH officer for Scotland, said: “It is startling that more than 29 per cent of pregnant women in the most deprived areas are smokers, compared to just 4.5 per cent in the least deprived, putting babies at risk of complications during pregnancy and birth and increasing the likelihood of cot death or still birth.

“Before a child is even born they are set on a path to ill health. This simply cannot be allowed to continue.”

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While Scotland led the way as the first UK nation to ban smoking in pubs and restaurants, and recently made it illegal to smoke in cars with children present, the Royal College calls for the smoking ban to be extended to other public spaces populated by children.

In its report, published today, the college said: “Progress has been made but we must push onward towards ensuring our children have a tobacco- free childhood.

“The Scottish Government should extend bans on smoking in public places to school grounds and all sports fields and playgrounds.”

Sheila Duffy, chief executive of Ash Scotland, backed the call. She said: “It’s not our wish to stigmatise smokers, but in spaces predominantly used by children, such as playgrounds, we would agree with the college that smoking should be banned.”

The report also highlights that rates of breastfeeding by the time a baby is six to eight weeks are also lower in Scotland, at 27 per cent on average, compared to 44 per cent in England.

The report notes there has been only a “minimal increase” in breastfeeding rates north of the Border over the past decade, with a huge gulf between the poorest and most affluent areas.

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Barely 15 per cent of mothers in the most deprived areas were exclusively breastfeeding at six to eight weeks, compared to more than half (53 per cent) of the mothers in wealthiest postcodes.

The World Health Organisation recommends breastfeeding infants for at least the first six months to help protect against infections.

Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell said: “We agree our children’s health should be a priority for all. This is why this Government has committed to ensuring the best start for all our children, and real progress has been made in reducing the damage done by tobacco, increasing the proportion of healthy-weight children and improving Scotland’s relationship with alcohol.”