Assessment of pregnancy cigarette smoking and factors that predict denial.
OBJECTIVE
To determine rates of pregnancy smoking concealment compared to behavioral observation and to identify factors predicting untruthful denial.


METHODS
Review of 843 delivery charts.


RESULTS
Based on observation during delivery hospitalization, 8% of smokers denied hospital admission, 16% denied throughout prenatal care. Compared with those admitting smoking, false deniers had higher levels of education, incomes and adequate prenatal care utilization; and were less likely to have drug use, STDs, or hepatitis C. Observation was a valid tool for assessing smoking status.


CONCLUSIONS
Typical concealers were those considered lower risk, increasing the chance they would go undetected as smokers.
Bailey
Beth A
BA
Associate Professor of Family Medicine, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA. nordstro@etsu.edu
Wright
Heather N
HN
D003717:Denial, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019370:Observation / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*