Quitting Smoking before and after Pregnancy: Study Methods and Baseline Data from a Prospective Cohort Study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Reproductive Health
• Addiction Medicine

Background:

• Smoking during pregnancy and postpartum is a significant public health concern.
• Limited prospective research exists on the interplay between risk factors and smoking trajectories during this critical period.
• Understanding these dynamics is crucial for developing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and describe the methods of the prospective "Msgs4Moms" cohort study.
• To present baseline characteristics of study participants.
• To compare the study sample to national data on pregnant women.

Main Methods:

• Prospective cohort study design.
• Recruitment of current smokers or recent quitters from obstetrics clinics.
• Data collection on smoking patterns, tobacco use variables, abstinence, and treatment quality from pregnancy through 1-year postpartum.
• Statistical analyses including Chi-square and independent sample t-tests.

Main Results:

• 62 participants enrolled: 41 smokers and 21 quitters.
• Demographic profile: 45.2% Black, 35.5% White, 19.3% multiracial; 46.8% with post-secondary education; 64.5% Medicaid-insured.
• Smokers, compared to quitters, were less employed (65.9% vs 90.5%) and reported greater financial strain (61.1% vs 28.6%).

Conclusions:

• Women who smoke during pregnancy face numerous social determinants of health.
• Longitudinal data from this cohort can identify treatment gaps and critical intervention points.
• Psychosocial variables influencing smoking require further investigation for targeted interventions.