Factors associated with spontaneous quitting smoking among pregnant women from small towns and villages in Poland
| Author(s)
Łukasz Balwicki and Tadeusz Jedrzejczyk
| | Presenter(s) |
Dr Łukasz Balwicki Department of Public Health and Social Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland | Abstract The aim of the study was to assess the proportion of women who quit smoking spontaneously and factors associated with smoking status.
The data came from 4512 interviews with pregnant women in different trimesters of pregnancy, which were done by trained midwifes during epidemiologic and prevention program the Polish 400 Cities Project in 2007-2008. The smoking status was validated with smokerlyzer.
Prevalence of smoking in the beginning of pregnancy was confirmed by 34,6% women.
During the pregnancy 14,7% of women declared quitting smoking after knowing they were pregnant, that is 42,5% of women who smoked in the beginning of pregnancy. 15,8% of those who reported quitting had levels of exhaled CO equal or above 7 ppm. Among smokers the most frequent quitters were women aged 15-19 yo (44,4%), with higher education (84,9%), married 47,%, employed (52,5%), with highest incomes (59,1%), who had both nonsmoking parents (58% ).
Smoking rate among pregnant women from villages and small towns in Poland is widespread. Higher socio-economic status seem to influence quitting rates. Significant percentage of women spontaneously giving up indicates pregnancy is highly motivating for smoking cessation. It is worthwhile to use this time for more intensive preventive services.
| Presenter biography Lukasz Balwicki - MD, PhD, public health specialist, manager of the Smoking Cessation Clinic, academic teacher at Medical University of Gdansk, Departament of Public Health and Social Medicine, vicepresident of the Polish Society for Health Programs
| Source of funding: Medical University of Gdansk
| Declaration of interest: None
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