title: Tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke among pregnant women in the Dominican Republic: an exploratory look into attitudes, beliefs, perceptions, and practices.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study is to assess the attitudes, beliefs, perceptions, and practices regarding tobacco use and exposure among pregnant women in the Dominican Republic.
  
  
  METHODS
  The survey was conducted in two public health hospitals in Santiago, Dominican Republic, and was administered to a convenience sample of 192 women during prenatal care visits. Analyses examined pregnant women's tobacco use, secondhand smoke exposure (SHS), knowledge about risks of smoking and benefits of quitting, and attitudes toward women's tobacco use. All data were collected between April and August 2009.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Respondents' age ranged from 18 to 41 years, with a mean age of 25 years (SD = 4.59), a high literacy level (82%), low educational levels (48% less than high school education), and a high unemployment rate (65%). Levels of ever having experimented with cigarettes were 14%, and 5% had ever been a regular smoker. Among all respondents, 3% of women reported being current smokers. When respondents were asked if they would try smoking next year, 7% responded yes, maybe, or don't know. Rates of self-reported SHS among pregnant women were 16%, and 14% reported their young children being exposed to secondhand smoke. More than half of the pregnant women in this study allowed smoking in their home (76%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides a preliminary understanding of tobacco use and exposure among pregnant women and its potential impact on the Dominican Republic's public health efforts that include improving maternal and child health.
authors: Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Cancer prevention and Population Sciences, Buffalo, NY, USA. essie.torres@roswellpark.org
authors: Essie
authors: E
authors: Torres
authors: Zahira
authors: Z
authors: Quiñones de Monegro
authors: Lucia
authors: L
authors: French
authors: Dena P
authors: DP
authors: Swanson
authors: Joseph
authors: J
authors: Guido
authors: Deborah J
authors: DJ
authors: Ossip
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003469:Culture; D003710:Demography; D004293:Dominican Republic / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D010465:Perception; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution