Is there an increased lability in parents' smoking behaviour after a childbirth?
OBJECTIVE
To test our hypothesis that there is an increased lability in parents' smoking behaviour after a childbirth, and to search for demographic factors associated with lability in parents' smoking behaviour.


METHODS
A one month, prospective questionnaire study.


METHODS
Maternal and child health centres in Oslo, Norway.


METHODS
222 families in which at least one adult was smoking were enrolled in the study. 37 families dropped out (16.7%) and 185 families completed both questionnaires.


METHODS
Changes in daily smoking, smoking quantity, and practical measures to prevent passive smoking by the children, as assessed by parental reports.


RESULTS
Families with a child aged less than one year (infant) were more likely to make one or another positive change (quit, reduce, stop smoking indoors, stop smoking in living rooms) than families with only older children. There was a trend for families with an infant to make negative changes more often (start smoking, increase) as well. Older parents made positive changes more often than younger ones. Single parents were less likely to make positive changes.


CONCLUSIONS
The study indicates that there is an increased lability in parents' smoking behaviour after a childbirth.
Eriksen
W
W
Department of Community Medicine and General Practice, University of Oslo, Norway.
Sørum
K
K
Bruusgaard
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016015:Logistic Models; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D010332:Paternal Behavior; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution