Socio-demographic and motivational correlates of smoking status at term and postpartum

Abstract

BackgroundTobacco consumption during pregnancy has consequences for pregnant women and their fetus, as well as during the post-natal period. Many women stop their tobacco consumption during pregnancy, but statistics vary about the exact proportion, and a non-negligible number of them are still smoking at term. Moreover, tobacco relapse after birth is frequent. This study aims to provide epidemiological indicators about tobacco consumption at term and post-partum relapse in Switzer-land, and test risks factors associated with tobacco consumption at term, including Theory of Planned Behaviour variables for the motivational correlates. Losses to follow-up precluded testing risk factors associated with post-partum relapse.Participants and procedureRespondents were recruited at the pre-birth consultations at the hospital and answered the initial survey. They were con-tacted by email in the post-partum period two and six months after childbirth.Results10.6% of our sample were still smoking at the end of their pregnancy. The low-end estimate of relapse is 21.2% at two months (the high-end estimate being 74% after six months, using the worst-case scenario). Higher education level, in-come, and multiparity were descriptively associated with less tobacco consumption at term. Perceived behavioural control was the motivational variable differing the most between smokers and non-smokers, and with the broadest variance. Scores of attitudes and subjective norms had higher levels and were more consensual.ConclusionsIncidence of tobacco consumption during pregnancy and during the post-partum period is problematic in Switzerland. One promising avenue is increasing pregnant women’s perceived behavioural control toward smoking cessation during preg-nancy and long-term abstinence.