[Pregnancy and smoking: an opportunity to change behaviours].
BACKGROUND
Maternal smoking during pregnancy is related not only to perinatal adverse events but also to important postnatal problems. Smoking is very prevalent in women with several socio-demographic factors playing an important role.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the frequency of smoking as well as mothers' change in behaviours during pregnancy. To identify socio-demographic factors associated to smoking and to assess women's knowledge and sources of information about adverse effects of smoking during pregnancy.


METHODS
We started a cohort study between March and October 2003 at the Maternity, Hospital Santa Maria. After an informed consent the mothers in the post natal ward were asked to fill in a questionnaire.


RESULTS
Four hundred and seventy five mothers responded to the questionnaire and among them 30% were smokers before pregnancy. Thirty five percent stopped smoking during pregnancy and those who continued significantly reduced the number of cigarettes per day. Smoking was less prevalent in married women, with higher educational level and with stable employment (statistically significant correlations). Forty five percent of the mothers were misinformed or had no information about the adverse effects of smoking during pregnancy. Their main source of information were the media.


CONCLUSIONS
Smoking prevalence was high (30%) among the respondents but the pregnancy lowered the numbers of cigarettes per day. The percentage of misinformed mothers concerned about the adverse effects of smoking during pregnancy was high (45%), which also showed that doctors' role as a source of information was surpassed by the media. The study also brought to light the need for the health professionals to improve their competences in their role on prevention of smoking during pregnancy and the postnatal period.
Correia
Susana
S
Serviço de Pediatria, Unidade de Neonatologia Hospital de Santa Maria, Instituto de Medicina Preventiva, Faculdade de Medicinade Lisboa, Lisboa.
Nascimento
Catarina
C
Gouveia
Raquel
R
Martins
Sara
S
Sandes
Ana Rita
AR
Figueira
Joana
J
Valente
Sandra
S
Rocha
Evangelista
E
Da Silva
Lincoln
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D011247:Pregnancy; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention