[Why woman postpartum resume smoking]

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Addiction Medicine
• Reproductive Health

Background:

• Approximately 50% of women relapse to smoking within six months postpartum.
• Maternal smoking exposes about 34% of children to environmental tobacco smoke.
• Understanding postpartum smoking relapse is crucial for infant and maternal health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify postpartum women intending to resume smoking.
• To determine if the intention to smoke influences smoking status six months after delivery.
• To explore individual reasons for postpartum smoking relapse.

Main Methods:

• A sample of 301 women who quit smoking before or during pregnancy were assessed four weeks postpartum.
• Sociodemographic variables, pre-pregnancy smoking behavior, and intention to resume smoking were recorded.
• Smoking behavior and relapse reasons were reassessed in 285 women six months postpartum.

Main Results:

• 13% of postpartum women intended to restart smoking.
• No significant differences in sociodemographics or prior smoking behavior were found between those intending to relapse and those who did not.
• Women intending to resume smoking were significantly more likely to be smoking at six months postpartum (68% vs. 27%).
• Stress was the most frequently reported reason for relapse among the 50% of women who provided a personal reason.

Conclusions:

• At least 10% of women abstinent during pregnancy intend to relapse postpartum.
• Intention to resume smoking predicts early relapse, but relapse also occurs in women without this intention.
• Proactive interventions are necessary to prevent postpartum smoking relapse, as only half of relapsing women cite personal reasons.