About 62 percent of pregnant women in Japan face pregnancy complications and other health risks from inhaling secondary smoke from their partners' cigarettes, a survey by a government-affiliated health institution showed Friday.

The survey was carried out in February by the National Institute of Public Health at 260 medical facilities that have an obstetrics ward. Questionnaires were filled out by 16,528 respondents.

It was the first time a survey specifically covering pregnancy and smoking has been carried out on such a large scale, according to institute officials.