Tobacco Use and Environmental Smoke Exposure among Taiwanese Pregnant Smokers and Recent Quitters: Risk Perception, Attitude, and Avoidance Behavior

Abstract

In this study, we conducted an empirical survey of the avoidance behaviors and risk perceptions of active and passive smoking pregnant smokers and recent quitters. We employed an online questionnaire survey by recruiting 166 voluntary participants from an online parenting community in Taiwan. The results of the empirical survey revealed that three-fourths of smokers quit smoking during pregnancy and one-fourth continued smoking. All pregnant women who continued smoking had partners or lived with relatives who smoked. Current smokers and quitters differed significantly in their risk perceptions and attitudes toward smoking during pregnancy. Most pregnant smokers and quitters adopted passive smoking avoidance behaviors at home and in public. Nevertheless, one-fifth of pregnant women chose not to avoid passive smoking. We concluded that most women stop smoking during pregnancy; however, most women continue to be exposed to passive-smoking environments. Perceived fetal health risks and attitudes toward smoking during pregnancy are critical predictors of the anti-smoking behaviors of pregnant women.

Opinions of Adults about the Effects of Smoking during Pregnancy and Environmental Tobacco Smoke to the Infant Health in Sakarya, Turkey

“…Their results showed that the quitters had a greater awareness of the threat of smoking to fetal health ( quitter = 6.46 > smoker = 6.09, p < 0.05; one-tailed), severity of the threat of smoking to fetal health ( quitter = 6.35 > smoker = 5.72, p < 0.01; one-tailed), and overall perceived risk ( quitter = 6.40 > smoker = 5.90, p < 0.01; one-tailed) compared with the smoker group. Many pregnant women in their study were aware of the health risks of secondhand smoke to their unborn babies [20].In our study 84.4% of the smokers during pregnancy agreed to threat of active and passive smoking to the fetal health (Table 1). Nicotine activates multiple biologic pathways that are relevant to fetal growth and development, immune function, the cardiovascular system, the central nervous system, and carcinogenesis.…”

Fatores associados ao uso nocivo do tabaco durante a gestação

“…(15) Pregnant women who live with smokers in their families are more exposed to the use of tobacco, and the association with smoking is a risk factor for the early use of tobacco. (2) Similarly, pregnant women who had a diagnosis of mental disorder and have received some specialized treatment tend to use tobacco, and have more difficulties to stop their use than those without mental disorders. Presence of depressive symptoms and no help in mental disease or smoking cessation makes the cessation of its use more complex, with predictable consequences to the fetus.…”

“…(2) Considering women who use tobacco during pregnancy, in Brazil, it is estimated that 9.14% of pregnant women are also smokers, at considerable risk to her and the fetus health. (3) Risks include ectopic pregnancy, placenta abruption, ruptured membranes and placenta previa.…”

“…Insufficient education and family income level are relevant aspects in this subject (7) and the family life relations should also be considered. (2) On a personal level, the routinely use of other psychoactive substances, both licit and illicit, was significantly associated with tobacco use during pregnancy. (8) The quality of mental health of pregnant women and recidive of mental illnesses were also described as smoking predictor during that period.…”

“…(9) Some women abandon tobacco use when they discover the pregnancy, but there are a significant number of women who continue to use it. (2) Thus, tools to screen for tobacco use in prenatal consultations at the primary level of health care should be applied as a necessity, as many women do not abandon this habit during pregnancy. Reduction of health problems of women and fetuses through health promotion and disease prevention measures for tobacco should be a priority.…”