title: Smoking during pregnancy: childbirth and health study in primary care in Iceland.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the prevalence and possible predictors for smoking during pregnancy in Iceland.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six primary health care centres in Iceland 2009-2010. SUBJECTS. Women attending antenatal care in the 11th-16th week of pregnancy were invited to participate by convenient consecutive manner, stratified according to residency. A total of 1111 women provided data in this first phase of the cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Smoking habits before and during early pregnancy were assessed with a postal questionnaire, which also included questions about socio-demographic background, physical and emotional well-being, and use of medications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of smoking prior to pregnancy was 20% (223/1111). During early pregnancy, it was 5% (53/1111). In comparison with women who stopped smoking during early pregnancy, those who continued to smoke had on average a significantly lower level of education, had smoked more cigarettes per day before pregnancy, and were more likely to use nicotine replacement therapy in addition to smoking during pregnancy. A higher number of cigarettes consumed per day before pregnancy and a lower level of education were the strongest predictors for continued smoking during pregnancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of Icelandic women who smoke stop when they become pregnant, and the prevalence of smoking during pregnancy in Iceland is still about 5%. Our results indicate stronger nicotine dependence in women who do not stop smoking during pregnancy. Awareness of this can help general practitioners (GPs) and others providing antenatal care to approach these women with more insight and empathy, which might theoretically help them to quit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, University of Iceland , Gardabaer , Iceland.
authors.forename: Asthildur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Erlingsdottir
authors.forename: Emil L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Sigurdsson
authors.forename: Jon Steinar
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Jonsson
authors.forename: Hildur
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kristjansdottir
authors.forename: Johann A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Sigurdsson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007055:Iceland / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D017533:Marital Status; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult