Smoking cessation in pregnancy: a self-help approach.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Behavioral Science
• Obstetrics

Background:

• Smoking during pregnancy poses significant health risks to both mother and child.
• Effective and accessible smoking cessation interventions are crucial for pregnant populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a home-correspondence behavioral smoking cessation program for pregnant women.
• To identify predictors of successful smoking cessation in this demographic.

Main Methods:

• A 3-month recruitment period enrolled pregnant smokers and recent quitters in a program with mailings and phone support.
• Follow-up assessments included self-report and urine thiocyanate assays to confirm smoking status.
• Multivariate analyses identified predictors of quitting.

Main Results:

• 23 self-initiated quitters maintained abstinence, confirmed by assays in 82% of cases. Predictors included gravida, years smoking, and friends who smoke.
• 10 of 35 (28.5%) baseline smokers quit post-program, confirmed by assays. Predictors included gravida, nausea, smoking rate, and spouse's smoking status.
• The majority found the program helpful for quitting and maintaining abstinence.

Conclusions:

• A home-correspondence, self-help smoking cessation program is a viable method for pregnant women.
• The program facilitates both initiating and maintaining smoking abstinence during pregnancy.
• Identifying key predictors can help tailor interventions for improved outcomes.