Research Article. Relationship Between High Levels of Salivary Cotinine Test and Demographic Characteristics of Pregnant Smokers from Mures County

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between the frequency of self-declared status regarding smoking in a group of pregnant women from Mures county, Romania and the high levels of Salivary Cotinine (SC) like biomarkers. Material and methods: It was conducted a retrospective study among 230 pregnant women presented for prenatal care at 50 General Practitioners cabinets in Mures county, Romania, in 2015. Data were collected with a validated questionnaire which included age, level of education, socioeconomic status and ethnicity, also the selfreported smoking status. The Salivary Cotinine level was evaluated using NicAlert Saliva test kits. Results: Using salivary test we identified a high prevalence of involuntary exposure to cigarette smoke among both non-smokers and those who quit smoking before pregnancy. Also we registered pregnant women that although declared smoking cessation before pregnancy their salivary Cotinine levels were high, almost like to an active smoker, probably because of second-hand exposure or because they didn't say the truth about their habit. Conclusions: We underline the importance of implementing more efficient community interventions among this vulnerable group in order to reduce the frequency of smoking and sustain quitting.

Healthy Pregnancies Project: Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial of a Community Intervention to Reduce Tobacco Use among Alaska Native Women

“…At 6 months postpartum, point-prevalence tobacco use was defined as self-reported use of any tobacco product in the past 7 days, and for those reporting abstinence, this was confirmed with a salivary cotinine concentration of ≤20 ng/mL or NicAlert test strip reading of 0 [ 20 , 21 , 22 ]. Results were classified as tobacco use if (1) the woman reported abstinence but cotinine was missing or elevated (except if using NRT; no participant reported e-cigarette use), or (2) if she reported using tobacco, irrespective of the cotinine result.…”