Smoking and smoking relapse during pregnancy and postpartum: results of a qualitative study.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to describe women's smoking experience during pregnancy and postpartum. Primiparous women recruited during a randomized controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of postpartum visiting were invited to participate in a qualitative study.


METHODS
A semistructured protocol guided the face-to-face interview. Interviews were audiotaped and transcribed. Data were coded independently by the authors, and the final coding system for emergent themes was developed through a consensus process.


RESULTS
Of the 47 women invited to participate, 22 agreed to be interviewed. Three major themes emerged from the analysis: pregnancy as a context for stopping smoking, returning to smoking, and social pressures on smoking behavior. Concerns about the baby's health were cited as central reasons for stopping. Breastfeeding provided a reason for continued smoking cessation, whereas social events often demarcated a resumption of women's smoking choices.


CONCLUSIONS
Results provide guidance for the timing and content of interventions to prevent smoking relapse.
School of Nursing, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
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Edwards
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Sims-Jones
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D012008:Recurrence; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires