Predictors of intentions to stop smoking early in prenatal care

Abstract

Objective: To determine baseline variables associated with low intentions of stopping smoking early in pregnancy.

Design: Cross sectional survey.

Participants: Pregnant smokers pooled across seven Smoke-Free Families trials (n = 1314).

Results: 36% of pregnant smokers had low intentions of stopping smoking within the next 30 days. In contrast to pregnant smokers with higher intentions of quitting, pregnant smokers with low intentions were less confident in their ability to quit, less likely to have private health insurance, and less likely to agree that smoking harms the unborn child. They were more likely to smoke heavily, more likely to have fewer years of education, and more likely to have friends and family members who smoke.

Conclusions: Three options to smoking cessation assistance are proposed for pregnant smokers with low intentions of quitting: targeting, triage, and tailoring. Further research is needed to determine which approach is most appropriate.