Smoking during pregnancy: analysis of influencing factors using the Theory of Planned Behaviour

Abstract

Aim: To investigate factors affecting women's intention to smoke during pregnancy.

Design: A descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional study, employing the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB).

Methods: A questionnaire that was constructed based on a literature review of research on smoking during pregnancy and on the TPB was administered to 201 Israeli female smokers aged 19-46. Descriptive, correlational and linear regression statistics were calculated.

Results: Behavioural attitudes (women's total appraisal of smoking during pregnancy), subjective norms (women's perception of the opinion of significant others regarding the specific behaviour) and perceived behavioural control (women's total appraisal of their control of the behaviour and perceived ease or difficulty of quitting smoking during pregnancy) were found to predict women's intention to smoke during pregnancy.

Conclusions: Nursing interventions guided by the TPB constructs may help Israeli women quit smoking during pregnancy and reduce the prevalence of smoking during pregnancy.