Perceived support to stay quit: what happens after delivery?
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether perceived changes in postpartum support were associated with postpartum return to smoking.


METHODS
This is a prospective repeated measures, mixed methods observational study. Sixty-five women who smoked prior to pregnancy were recruited at delivery and surveyed at 2, 6, 12, and 24 weeks postpartum; in-depth interviews were conducted when participants reported smoking.


RESULTS
Fifty-two percent self identified as White, non-Hispanic. Forty-seven percent resumed smoking by 24 weeks postpartum. Women who had returned to smoking by 24 weeks had a significantly larger decrease in perceived smoking-specific support than women who remained abstinent (p<0.001). By 24-week postpartum follow-up, only 24% of women reported that an obstetric clinician had discussed how to quit/stay quit. When qualitatively interviewed, more than half of women reported having no one to support them to stay quit or quit smoking.


CONCLUSIONS
Following delivery, women lack needed smoking-specific support. Decline in perceived smoking-specific support from family and friends is associated with postpartum smoking resumption.
Park
Elyse R
ER
Massachusetts General Hospital, 9th Floor, Boston, MA 02114, USA. epark@partners.org
Chang
Yuchiao
Y
Quinn
Virginia P
VP
Ross
Kaile
K
Rigotti
Nancy A
NA
D000328:Adult; D001900:Boston / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012008:Recurrence; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D012944:Social Support; D055815:Young Adult