A reexamination of smoking before, during, and after pregnancy

Prenatal and Childhood Smoke Exposure Associations with Cognition, Language, and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

OBJECTIVE

To assess the relationships of prenatal and childhood smoke exposure with specific neurodevelopmental and behavioral problems during early childhood.

STUDY DESIGN

A subsample (n = 386) of mother-child dyads from the Newborn Epigenetic Study (NEST) prebirth cohort participated in the study. Cotinine concentrations were used to objectively measure prenatal and childhood smoke exposure when youth were aged 3-13 years. Multivariable regression models were used to estimate associations of prenatal and childhood cotinine concentrations with performance on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Toolbox and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and behavioral symptoms, measured using the Behavior Assessment System for Children, 2nd edition (BASC-2).

RESULTS

After adjusting for confounders, childhood cotinine concentrations were associated with poorer cognitive performance on tasks measuring cognitive flexibility (B = -1.29; P = .03), episodic memory (B = -0.97; P = .02), receptive language development (B = -0.58; P = .01), and inhibitory control and attention (B = -1.59; P = .006). Although childhood cotinine concentration was associated with higher levels of attention problems (B = 0.83; P = .004) on the BASC-2, after adjustment for confounders, the association is nonsignificant. Although associations for maternal cotinine concentrations were null, an interaction was detected between prenatal and childhood cotinine concentrations on the NIH Toolbox Picture Vocabulary Task (P = .02).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that childhood tobacco smoke exposure may lead to poorer attention regulation and language acquisition, complex visual processing ability, and attention problems.

Associations between prenatal and postnatal substance exposure and salivary C-reactive protein in early childhood

BACKGROUND

Exposure to tobacco and cannabis during developmental periods of enhanced vulnerability (e.g., in utero and early childhood) may have long-lasting effects on child health. One potential mechanism underlying these associations is the alteration of inflammatory pathways. Using data from a longitudinal study of mother/child dyads, we examined the adjusted and combined associations of prenatal and postnatal tobacco and cannabis exposure with inflammation in early childhood. Furthermore, we explored the relations between different measures of exposure, partly reflecting differences in timing, dose, and level of fetal exposure (e.g., self-report vs. biomarker), and inflammation. Finally, we explored child sex as a moderator of prenatal and postnatal tobacco and cannabis exposure and inflammation.

METHOD

Women were recruited from a local hospital during their first prenatal appointment. Repeated assessments were conducted at each trimester, at birth, and when children were 2, 9, 16, 24, 36, and 60 months old (N = 215; 112 female children). To evaluate associations with different measurement approaches, prenatal tobacco and cannabis exposure were assessed using: 1) continuous dose-response variables of maternal self-reported tobacco and cannabis use during each trimester to assess associations with timing and severity of exposure, 2) categorization of children into exposure groups based on drugs and metabolites present in infant meconium reflecting later pregnancy fetal exposure, and 3) categorization into exposure groups using a combination of maternal self-report data and biomarker data derived from maternal saliva samples and infant meconium taking advantage of multiple methods of assessment to examine group differences. Postnatal exposure to tobacco (assessed using child salivary cotinine) and cannabis (assessed using maternal self-reported average joints smoked per day) was measured at each infancy/early childhood assessment. Adjusted pre- and postnatal exposure associations with child inflammation were assessed by including both measures as predictor variables in linear regression models predicting child salivary C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations at 60 months. Interactions between pre- and postnatal exposure variables were then modeled to investigate the combined relations between pre- and postnatal substance exposure with child salivary CRP concentrations at 60 months.

RESULTS

Adjusting for postnatal exposure variables, there was a significant interaction between the average daily cigarettes and the average daily cannabis joints smoked during the third trimester predicting salivary CRP concentrations in early childhood. At high tobacco exposure, the effect of cannabis on CRP concentrations was negligible, whereas at low tobacco exposure, the effect of cannabis exposure on CRP concentrations was positive. Adjusting for postnatal tobacco and cannabis exposure, children for whom meconium data indicated co-exposure to tobacco and cannabis showed approximately 43% lower CRP concentrations at age 60 months compared to children with no exposure. However, when mother/child dyads were categorized based on a combination of maternal self-report data and biomarker data from saliva samples and infant meconium, there were no differences in salivary CRP concentrations at age 60 months across the three groups (no prenatal exposure, prenatal tobacco exposure only, prenatal co-exposure to tobacco and cannabis), controlling for postnatal associations. Regardless of the measurement method used to assess prenatal exposures in adjusted analyses, prenatal tobacco exposure alone did not predict CRP concentrations in early childhood, nor did postnatal tobacco exposure. Among boys, postnatal cannabis exposure was associated with higher concentrations of CRP at age 60 months, controlling for prenatal exposure relations. There were no significant combined associations of pre- and postnatal exposure with CRP concentrations.

CONCLUSION

This study expands upon known relations between prenatal and postnatal substance exposure and immunological outcomes in early childhood, underscoring the importance of assessing cannabis exposure during gestation and early life in combination with tobacco exposure.

Couples-based behaviour change interventions to reduce metabolic syndrome risk. A systematic review

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Metabolic Syndrome (MetS), is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases including type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Although MetS risk is transferred via the epigenome from both biological parents, periconceptional lifestyle interventions are generally directed towards mothers. There is a need for interventions to reflect the shared nature of epigenetic MetS risk between both biological parents. Couples-based lifestyle interventions have previously been used to improve adherence to behaviour change in conditions with shared risk responsibility such as sexually transmitted diseases. This systematic literature review sought to answer the research question: Are couples-based interventions more effective than individual interventions to address overweight and obesity as the primary modifiable risk for MetS in addition to other associated factors.

METHODS

Couples-based studies involving randomised controlled trials, published between 01/01/1990-31/12/2021, were identified in Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection, Cochrane, and Scopus.

RESULTS

After screening 4742 articles, only five eligible trials remained. Statistically significant post-intervention maintenance of low glycaemic levels was observed in one study. Otherwise, no statistically significant group differences between couples' groups and control groups were observed in any of the five included studies.

CONCLUSIONS

The included studies concluded that couple-based interventions can lead to weight reduction, maintenance, and adherence to modified health behaviours similar to interventions that target individuals. Overall, the findings indicate that, notwithstanding the paucity of authentic couples-based interventions, there is potential for such approaches to moderate MetS risk factors likely to flow onto epigenetic transmission of risk.

Trends of maternal waterpipe, cigarettes, and dual tobacco smoking in Jordan. A decade of lost opportunities

Background

Maternal tobacco use is a global public health problem. In the literature, the focus was mainly on cigarette smoking, minimally on waterpipe use, and totally ignored dual use among pregnant women. We estimated the prevalence of current maternal tobacco use by tobacco product (cigarette, waterpipe, and dual use) over a period of ten years (2007 to 2017), and examined the socio-demographic patterning of maternal tobacco use.

Methods

A secondary analysis of Jordan DHS four data waves was conducted for women who reported to be pregnant at the time of the survey. Current cigarette and waterpipe tobacco use were investigated. Prevalence estimates for cigarette-only, waterpipe-only, and dual use, as well as for cigarette, regardless of waterpipe, and waterpipe, regardless of cigarette, were reported. The effect of independent variables on cigarette smoking, waterpipe use, and dual use was assessed. Logistic regression models assessed the adjusted effects of socio-demographic variables on cigarette smoking, waterpipe use, and on dual use. For each outcome variable, a time-adjusted and a time-unadjusted logistic models were conducted.

Results

Over the last decade, the prevalence estimates of current cigarette-only smoking slightly decreased. The prevalence estimates of current waterpipe-only use exceeded those for cigarette-only after 2007 and showed a steady overall increase. Current dual use showed a continuous rise especially after 2009. Gradual increase in cigarette smoking (4.1%, in 2007, and 5.7% in 2017) and in waterpipe use (2.5% to 6.4%) were detected. Education showed an inverse relationship with cigarette and waterpipe smoking. Household wealth demonstrated a positive association with cigarette and waterpipe smoking.

Conclusions

Tobacco use epidemic is expanding its roots among pregnant women in Jordan through not only waterpipe use but also dual cigarette–waterpipe smoking. Maternal and child services should consider tobacco counseling and cessation.

The effect of antenatal depression on birth weight among newborns in South Gondar zone, Northwest Ethiopia: a population-based prospective cohort study

Background

There is a high prevalence of antenatal depression and low birth weight (LBW) (< 2.5 kg) in Ethiopia. Prior evidence revealed that the association between antenatal depression and LBW in high- and low-income countries is conflicting. The effect of antenatal depression on birth weight is under-researched in Ethiopia. We aimed to examine the independent effect of antenatal depression on newborn birth weight in an urban community in Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods

A total of 970 pregnant women were screened for antenatal depression in their second and third trimester of pregnancy through the use of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). A logistic regression model was used to adjust confounders and determine associations between antenatal depression and low birth weight. Information was collected on the birth weight of newborns and mother’s socio-demographic, anthropometric, obstetric, clinical, psychosocial, and behavioral factors.

Results

The cumulative incidence of LBW was found to be 27.76%. The cumulative incidence of LBW in those born from depressed pregnant women was 40% as compared to 21% in none depressed. While considering all other variables constant, mothers who had antenatal depression were 2.51 (COR = 2.51 (95 CI: 1.87, 3.37)) more likely to have a child with low birth weight. After adjusting for potential confounders, antenatal depression in the second and third trimester of pregnancy (AOR = 1.92 (95% CI: 1.31, 2.81)) remained significantly associated with LBW. Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) ≤21, lack of ANC follow up, and preterm births were also associated with LBW.

Conclusion

This study showed that antenatal depression during the second and third trimester of pregnancy is associated with LBW of newborns and replicates results found in high-income countries. Linking early screening, detection, and treatment of antenatal depression into routine antenatal care could be essential to improve pregnancy outcomes.

Smoking cessation and counseling: A mixed methods study of pediatricians and parents

OBJECTIVE

Pediatric providers play an important role in parental and youth smoking cessation. The goal of this study was to understand smoking cessation attitudes of parents and the behaviors, confidence and self-efficacy of pediatricians related to providing smoking cessation counseling to parents and youth.

METHODS

A mixed methods study was conducted in a convenience sample of families (n = 1,549) and pediatric primary care clinicians (n = 95) in Connecticut using surveys and focus groups from April, 2016 to January, 2017.

RESULTS

The smoking rate (cigarettes or electronic cigarettes) among all households surveyed was 21%. Interest in quitting smoking was high (71%) and did not differ based on smoking amount, duration, type of community of residence (urban, rural, etc), or race/ethnicity. For example, compared to participants who smoked for <10 years, those who smoked ≥20 years had a similar interest in quitting (OR = 1.12; 95% CI: 0.85-1.48). Ninety percent of clinicians surveyed asked parents about their smoking behavior at least annually but 36% offered no smoking cessation counseling services or referral. Clinicians almost always reported counseling youth about the dangers of nicotine and tobacco use (99%), were more confident about counseling youth than parents (p<0.01) and reported low self-efficacy about smoking cessation and prevention counseling of parents and youth. Ninety-three percent of clinicians opined that electronic cigarettes were equally or more dangerous than cigarettes but 34% never counseled youth about the dangers of electronic cigarettes.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinicians frequently screen parents about their smoking behaviors, but rarely provide smoking cessation counseling and express low confidence in this activity. Clinicians are more confident counseling youth than parents. Clinicians also recognize the dangers of electronic cigarettes, yet they infrequently counsel youth about these dangers.

Parenthood and smoking

Parents' smoking is harmful to infants' health. While it is well established that the fraction of mothers smoking during pregnancy is non-negligible, it is an open question of how many parents actually quit smoking to account for the adverse health effects accruing to their offspring. It is also unknown for how long smoking is reduced after first childbirth. This paper investigates these questions in a longitudinal analysis. The analyzed time period covers smoking patterns several years before childbirth and up to twenty years afterwards. Women's smoking probability already drops several years before first childbirth and it remains reduced until the first child turns 18 years old. In the second and third trimester of pregnancy, the drop is largest by around 75 percent.

Description of Maternal Smoking Status Before and After Pregnancy: A Longitudinal, Community-Based Cohort Study

Background

Maternal smoking during pregnancy is a major risk for adverse perinatal outcomes, as well as children’s health status. Thus, it is important to describe maternal smoking status during pregnancy and child-rearing to devise better intervention strategies. However, there have been no longitudinal studies to describe the status. Thus, in this study, we aimed to describe maternal smoking status during pregnancy and child-rearing based on population-based maternal and child health information. Moreover, we explored the factors associated with maternal smoking relapse after delivery.

Methods

We performed a survey of 1,220 mothers in a Japanese rural area who responded to a questionnaire upon registration of their pregnancies. When their children received health checkups at 4, 18, and 36 months of age, maternal smoking status was also surveyed. We then performed multiple logistic regression analysis to explore factors associated with maternal smoking relapse after delivery.

Results

Ultimately, the total number of mothers with data available for longitudinal analysis was 727 (59.6%). At the time of pregnancy registration, there were 74 current smokers (10.2%) and 176 former smokers (24.2%). Among them, 59 (33.5%) relapsed after delivery. Under 28 years of maternal age at pregnancy registration (OR 2.6; 95% CI, 1.2–5.4) was associated with maternal smoking relapse after delivery.

Conclusions

Longitudinal analyses showed that about 60% of mothers who smoked before and after delivery failed smoking cessation. In addition, younger mothers were significantly likely to relapse smoking after delivery.

Associations Between Early Low-Level Tobacco Smoke Exposure and Executive Function at Age 8 Years

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether exposure to tobacco smoke during early brain development is linked with later problems in behavior and executive function.

STUDY DESIGN

We studied 239 children in a prospective birth cohort. We measured tobacco exposures by caregiver report and serum cotinine 3 times during pregnancy and 4 times during childhood. We used linear regression to examine the association between prenatal and childhood serum cotinine concentrations and behavior (the Behavior Assessment System for Children-2) and executive function (the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function) at age 8 years while adjusting for important covariates.

RESULTS

Neither prenatal nor child serum cotinine were associated with behavior problems measured by the Behavior Assessment System for Children-2. On the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, prenatal and childhood exposure was associated with poorer task initiation scores (B = 0.44; 95% CI, 0.03-0.85 and B = 0.69, 95% CI, 0.06-1.32 respectively). Additionally, in a subset of 208 children with nonsmoking mothers, prenatal exposure was associated with task initiation scores (B = 1.17; 95% CI, 0.47-1.87) and additional components of the metacognition index (eg, working memory, B = 1.20; 95% CI, 0.34-2.06), but not components of the behavioral regulation index.

CONCLUSIONS

Tobacco exposures during pregnancy (including low-level second-hand smoke) and childhood were associated with deficits in some domains of children's executive function, especially task initiation and metacognition. These results highlight that decreasing early exposure to tobacco smoke, even second-hand exposure, may support ideal brain functioning.

Association between Living with Children and the Health and Health Behavior of Women and Men. Are There Differences by Age? Results of the "German Health Update" (GEDA) Study

Does the health of women and men living with and without minor children differ, and are age differences evident in the association? For self-rated general health, depression, back pain, overweight, smoking and sporting inactivity, the GEDA data 2009-2012 (18-54 years, n = 39,096) were used to calculate prevalence for women and men stratified by parental status (living with children: yes/no) and age. Moreover, we calculated odds ratios and predictive margins, performing logistic regressions with interaction terms of parental status and age. Women and men aged 45-54 living with children are healthier than those not living with children. Parents aged 18-24 smoke more frequently and do less sport; young mothers are also more likely to be overweight and suffer from back pain than women not living with children. In multivariable analysis, the interaction of living with children and age is significant for all outcomes (except depression and back pain in men). Living with children is an important social determinant of health, highly dependent on age. It is to be discussed whether the bio-psycho-social situation has an influence on becoming a parent, or whether parenthood in different phases of life strains or enhances health.

Influence of Puerperal Health Literacy on Tobacco Use during Pregnancy among Spanish Women: A Transversal Study

Background: Despite the fact that tobacco use during pregnancy produces adverse perinatal effects, some women continue to smoke. Health literacy (HL) is essential for health outcomes in adults. However, little is known about HL in pregnant women or postpartum women. The study aimed to analyse the relationship between the degree of HL of women during the early puerperium and tobacco use during pregnancy. Methods: A multicentre, descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out with women in the early puerperium in a region of eastern Spain, between November 2017 and May 2018. Their HL level was obtained using the Newest Vital Sign (NVS) tool. Multivariate logistic models were adjusted to estimate the magnitude of association with tobacco use in pregnancy. Odds ratios (OR) were estimated with a 95% confidence interval. Results: 193 were included in the total. 29.5% (57) of pregnant women smoked tobacco during pregnancy, with a smoking cessation rate of 70.1% (40) while pregnant. 42.0% (81) of pregnant women had inadequate or limited HL. A low level of HL was strongly associated with tobacco use, adjusted by catchment area and age of first pregnancy (LRT p < 0.001; ROC curve = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.64–0.79). Conclusion: A low HL is associated with tobacco consumption during pregnancy. Whether low HL reflects the wide constellation of already-known socioeconomic, political and commercial determinants of tobacco use, or whether incorporating HL support interventions strengthens tobacco cessation activities in pregnancy, warrants further research. Still, it should be considered as essential to understanding the health disparities related to its consumption.

Feasibility of a clinic-delivered adolescent and pediatrician communication intervention on patient participatory behaviors and behavior change: TIC TAC pilot study

OBJECTIVES

Pediatrician-adolescent communication can improve adolescent health. We conducted a two-arm design to pilot-test an intervention that randomized adolescents to receive a Feedback Guide to promote engaged conversations. We hypothesized that adolescents who received the Guide would be more participatory.

METHODS

We recruited 12 pediatricians and 29 adolescents. Clinic staff enrolled adolescents using a tablet that enabled consenting, assessment of high-risk behaviors, and audio recording of encounters. We surveyed adolescents immediately and two months after the encounter.

RESULTS

Adolescents who received the intervention were more participatory than adolescents who did not. Pediatricians counseled on 20 of 32 high-risk behaviors with no significant arm differences. At follow-up, adolescents changed 9 of 32 behaviors; 6 were among 4 of adolescents in the intervention arm. Adolescents in the intervention arm were also more likely to report that counseling would help them change their behavior; these encounters were slightly longer than control arm encounters.

CONCLUSIONS

We confirmed feasibility of a streamlined approach to enrolling and audio recording encounters. The Feedback Guide improved adolescent participation and might have helped them adopt healthier behaviors.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Adolescents can be primed to be participatory and can change their behaviors after a meaningful encounter with their pediatrician.

Long-term Results From the FRESH RCT: Sustained Reduction of Children's Tobacco Smoke Exposure

INTRODUCTION

Standard care interventions to reduce children's tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) may not be sufficient to promote behavior change in underserved populations. A previous study demonstrated the short-term efficacy of an experimental counseling intervention, Family Rules for Establishing Smokefree Homes (FRESH) compared with standard care on boosting low-income children's TSE reduction and maternal smoking at 16-week end of treatment (EOT). This study tested long-term posttreatment efficacy of this treatment through a 12-month follow-up.

STUDY DESIGN

This study was a two-arm RCT.

SETTING/PARTICIPANTS

Maternal smokers (n=300) not seeking cessation treatment were recruited from low-income, urban communities. Participants exposed their <4-year-old children to tobacco smoke daily. Data collection and analyses occurred from 2006 to 2018.

INTERVENTION

The FRESH behavioral intervention included 2 home visits and 7 phone sessions. FRESH used cognitive behavioral skills training, support, problem-solving, and positive social reinforcement to facilitate the adoption of increasingly challenging TSE-protection behaviors. No nicotine-replacement therapy or medication was provided.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Primary outcomes were child cotinine (TSE biomarker) and reported TSE from EOT through 12 months after treatment. A secondary outcome was bioverified maternal smoking cessation.

RESULTS

Compared with controls, children in FRESH had significantly lower cotinine (β= -0.31, p<0.01) and lower maternal-reported TSE (β= -1.48, p=0.001) through the 12-month follow-up. A significant effect of time (β= -0.03, p=0.003) reflected a posttreatment decrease in cotinine. There was no treatment × time interaction, suggesting the treatment effect at EOT was sustained after treatment. Compared with controls, FRESH mothers maintained significantly higher odds of quitting smoking from EOT through 12-month follow-up (OR=8.87, 95% CI=2.33, 33.75).

CONCLUSIONS

Study results with a sample of underserved maternal smokers demonstrated that the short-term effect of FRESH counseling at 16-week EOT was maintained through 12 months after treatment-for both bioverified child TSE reduction and maternal smoking cessation. Smokers in low-income communities demonstrate elevated challenges to success in standard smoking treatment. FRESH follow-up results suggest the high potential value of more-intensive behavioral intervention for vulnerable smokers.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT02117947.

Altered Cortical Brain Structure and Increased Risk for Disease Seen Decades After Perinatal Exposure to Maternal Smoking: A Study of 9000 Adults in the UK Biobank

Secondhand smoke exposure is a major public health risk that is especially harmful to the developing brain, but it is unclear if early exposure affects brain structure during middle age and older adulthood. Here we analyzed brain MRI data from the UK Biobank in a population-based sample of individuals (ages 44-80) who were exposed (n = 2510) or unexposed (n = 6079) to smoking around birth. We used robust statistical models, including quantile regressions, to test the effect of perinatal smoke exposure (PSE) on cortical surface area (SA), thickness, and subcortical volumes. We hypothesized that PSE would be associated with cortical disruption in primary sensory areas compared to unexposed (PSE-) adults. After adjusting for multiple comparisons, SA was significantly lower in the pericalcarine (PCAL), inferior parietal (IPL), and regions of the temporal and frontal cortex of PSE+ adults; these abnormalities were associated with increased risk for several diseases, including circulatory and endocrine conditions. Sensitivity analyses conducted in a hold-out group of healthy participants (exposed, n = 109, unexposed, n = 315) replicated the effect of PSE on SA in the PCAL and IPL. Collectively our results show a negative, long term effect of PSE on sensory cortices that may increase risk for disease later in life.

Prevalence of Self-reported Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Profiles of Health Among Women of Different Generations: A Cross Sectional Study

Objective: Although polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is considered a lifelong disorder, very little is understood about the diagnosis and impact of this condition in women outside of the peak reproductive years. We examined the frequency of diagnosed PCOS and concurrent health conditions in women across the lifespan.

Methods: Data were analysed from 1509 women aged 15–95 years participating in a cross-sectional, face-to-face population survey in South Australia, 2015. We assessed the prevalence of PCOS in 10-year age groups and the frequency of comorbidities in women with and without PCOS subgrouped by age (< 45, [Formula: see text] 45 years). The main outcome measures were Diagnosed PCOS and other chronic conditions; lifestyle factors. Logistic regression analyses determined the risk of comorbidities in women with PCOS adjusting for age and BMI.

Results: Overall prevalence of PCOS was 5.6% (95% confidence interval (CI) 4.6–6.9%), peaking in the 35–44 year age group (9.1%), and lowest in those aged 15–24 (4.1%) or [Formula: see text] 65 (3.7%) years. Women with PCOS and aged <45 years were more likely to report diabetes (16.7% vs. 3.8%), cardiovascular disease (15.5% vs. 7.2%) and arthritis (15.5% vs. 7.2%) than their peers; these differences were diminished in the [Formula: see text] 45 year age group. The odds of diabetes and cardiovascular disease were more than doubled among women with PCOS (adjOR 2.23, 95% CI 1.49–4.31; adjOR 3.18, 95% CI 1.31–7.68).

Conclusion: PCOS is underdiagnosed in young and post-menopausal women. Diabetes and cardiovascular disease are key comorbidities requiring greater attention in younger women with PCOS.

Risk factors for hospitalizations associated with depression among women during the years around a birth: a retrospective cohort study

Introduction

Socio-economic status (SES) is an important determinant of health. Low SES is associated with higher rates of prenatal and post-partum depression, and prenatal and post-partum depression are associated with sub-optimal maternal and infant health. Furthermore, increased negative effects of post-partum depression have been reported in children from low SES backgrounds.

Objective

To assess whether SES was related to the risk of a medical or psychiatric hospitalization associated with depression (HAWD) and the risk of a HAWD by anti-depressant (AD) use during the years around a birth.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study used linked birth, hospitalization, prescription and tax-file records of the study cohort. We linked registry data of 243,933 women delivering 348,273 live infants in British Columbia (1999-2009). The outcomes of interest were a HAWD and a HAWD with the associated patient AD use. Ranked area-based measures of equivalised, family disposable income were used to create income deciles, our proxy for SES. Decile-1 represented the lowest income areas, and mothers from Decile-6 (middle-income) were the comparator group. Anti-depressant use was defined as having a prescription for a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or other AD during the years around a birth, defined as the period beginning 12 months before conception and ending 12 months after the birth. We analysed by pregnancy using mixed effects logistic regression whilst adjusting for maternal age and parity.

Results

Compared to mothers from middle-income areas (Decile-6), mothers from low income areas (Decile-1, Decile-2) had increased odds of a HAWD [adjusted OR=1.77 (CI: 1.43, 2.19); adjusted OR=1.56 (CI: 1.26, 1.94)]. Mothers from low income areas with depression and no AD use had even higher odds of a HAWD [adjusted OR=1.83 (CI: 1.33, 2.20); adjusted OR=1.71(CI: 1.33, 2.20)].

Conclusions

This study provides preliminary evidence to suggest that barriers to treating depression with ADs in mothers from low income areas during the years around a birth might contribute to their increased risk of a HAWD associated with non-pharmacologically treated depression. Further research is needed to understand the reasons for this increased risk.

Disclaimer

All inferences, opinions, and conclusions drawn in this manuscript are those of the authors and do not reflect the opinions or policies of the Data Stewards of Population Data BC.

Smoking Behavior of Women Before, During, and after Pregnancy: Indicators of Smoking, Quitting, and Relapse

BACKGROUND

Smoking cessation during pregnancy and preventing relapse postpartum is a pivotal public health priority.

OBJECTIVES

This study examined the risk and protective indicators of women who (a) smoke before pregnancy, (b) smoke during the entire pregnancy, (c) successfully quit smoking during pregnancy, and (d) relapse postpartum.

METHOD

This paper reports secondary analyses of the Dutch population-based Monitor on Substance Use and Pregnancy (2016). A representative sample of mothers of young children (n = 1,858) completed questionnaires at youth health care centers. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted.

RESULTS

Main results showed that women's smoking around pregnancy was strongly associated with the partner's smoking status before pregnancy, partner's change in smoking during pregnancy, and partner's change in smoking postpartum. Women's educational level and cannabis use before pregnancy were also related with women's smoking before and during pregnancy. Women's intensity of alcohol use before pregnancy was ambiguously related with women's smoking before and during pregnancy.

CONCLUSIONS

One of the key findings of this study suggests that it is essential that partners quit smoking before pregnancy and do not smoke during pregnancy. If partners continue smoking during pregnancy, they should quit smoking postpartum. Health care professionals can play an important role in addressing partners' smoking and giving them evidence-based cessation support before, during, and after pregnancy.

Prospective associations of breastfeeding and smoking cessation among low-income pregnant women

Although low-income pregnant women have high rates of smoking and low rates of breastfeeding, few studies have examined prospective associations between these risk factors in community samples. Doing so may help improve breast-feeding support programs in this population. We used a secondary analysis of 247 low-income pregnant smokers in Memphis, Tennessee, who were interviewed up to 4 times (twice during pregnancy and twice through 6 months postpartum). Smoking cessation during prepartum and postpartum was defined as a self-report of not smoking for ≥1 week and an expired carbon monoxide level of <10 ppm. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to determine whether intent to breastfeed was associated with smoking cessation and whether smoking cessation was associated with actual breastfeeding. Models were adjusted for sociodemographic, pregnancy-related, and smoking-related confounders. Thirty-nine percent of participants intended to breastfeed, and 38% did so. Women who intended to breastfeed were 2 times more likely to quit smoking prepartum (adjusted OR = 1.99, 95% CI [1.06, 3.74]), but not postpartum (adjusted OR = 1.27, 95% CI [0.57, 2.84]). Quitting smoking at baseline and during pregnancy was associated with subsequent breastfeeding (adjusted OR 2.27, 95% CI [1.05, 4.94] and adjusted OR = 2.49, 95% CI [1.21, 5.11]). Low-income women who intended to breastfeed were more likely to quit smoking during pregnancy and those who quit smoking at baseline and prepartum were more likely to breastfeed. Simultaneously supporting breastfeeding and smoking cessation may be very useful to change these important health behaviours among this high-risk population.

Enhancing partner support to improve smoking cessation

BACKGROUND

While many cessation programmes are available to assist smokers in quitting, research suggests that support from individual partners, family members, or 'buddies' may encourage abstinence.

OBJECTIVES

To determine if an intervention to enhance one-to-one partner support for smokers attempting to quit improves smoking cessation outcomes, compared with cessation interventions lacking a partner-support component.

SEARCH METHODS

We limited the search to the Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group Specialised Register, which was updated in April 2018. This includes the results of searches of the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL); MEDLINE (via OVID); Embase (via OVID); and PsycINFO (via OVID). The search terms used were smoking (prevention, control, therapy), smoking cessation and support (family, marriage, spouse, partner, sexual partner, buddy, friend, cohabitant and co-worker). We also reviewed the bibliographies of all included articles for additional trials.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials recruiting people who smoked. Trials were eligible if they had at least one treatment arm that included a smoking cessation intervention with a partner-support component, compared to a control condition providing behavioural support of similar intensity, without a partner-support component. Trials were also required to report smoking cessation at six months follow-up or more.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently identified the included studies from the search results, and extracted data using a structured form. A third review author helped resolve discrepancies, in line with standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. Smoking abstinence, biochemically verified where possible, was the primary outcome measure and was extracted at two post-treatment intervals where possible: at six to nine months and at 12 months or longer. We used a random-effects model to pool risk ratios from each study and estimate a summary effect.

MAIN RESULTS

Our update search identified 465 citations, which we assessed for eligibility. Three new studies met the criteria for inclusion, giving a total of 14 included studies (n = 3370). The definition of partner varied among the studies. We compared partner support versus control interventions at six- to nine-month follow-up and at 12 or more months follow-up. We also examined outcomes among three subgroups: interventions targeting relatives, friends or coworkers; interventions targeting spouses or cohabiting partners; and interventions targeting fellow cessation programme participants. All studies gave self-reported smoking cessation rates, with limited biochemical verification of abstinence. The pooled risk ratio (RR) for abstinence was 0.97 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.83 to 1.14; 12 studies; 2818 participants) at six to nine months, and 1.04 (95% CI 0.88 to 1.22; 7 studies; 2573 participants) at 12 months or more post-treatment. Of the 11 studies that measured partner support at follow-up, only two reported a significant increase in partner support in the intervention groups. One of these studies reported a significant increase in partner support in the intervention group, but smokers' reports of partner support received did not differ significantly. We judged one of the included studies to be at high risk of selection bias, but a sensitivity analysis suggests that this did not have an impact on the results. There were also potential issues with detection bias due to a lack of validation of abstinence in five of the 14 studies; however, this is not apparent in the statistically homogeneous results across studies. Using the GRADE system we rated the overall quality of the evidence for the two primary outcomes as low. We downgraded due to the risk of bias, as we judged studies with a high weighting in analyses to be at a high risk of detection bias. In addition, a study in both analyses was insufficiently randomised. We also downgraded the quality of the evidence for indirectness, as very few studies provided any evidence that the interventions tested actually increased the amount of partner support received by participants in the relevant intervention group.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Interventions that aim to enhance partner support appear to have no impact on increasing long-term abstinence from smoking. However, most interventions that assessed partner support showed no evidence that the interventions actually achieved their aim and increased support from partners for smoking cessation. Future research should therefore focus on developing behavioural interventions that actually increase partner support, and test this in small-scale studies, before large trials assessing the impact on smoking cessation can be justified.

Tobacco Use Prevalence and Outcomes Among Perinatal Patients Assessed Through an "Opt-out" Cessation and Follow-Up Clinical Program

Purpose Cigarette smoking in the perinatal period is associated with costly morbidity and mortality for mother and infant, yet many women continue to smoke throughout their pregnancy and following delivery. This report describes tobacco use prevalence among perinatal smokers identified through an "opt-out" inpatient smoking cessation clinical service. Description Adult women admitted to the peripartum, delivery, and postpartum units at a large academic hospital were screened for tobacco use. Smokers were identified through their medical record and referred to a bedside consult and follow-up using an interactive voice response (IVR) system to assess smoking up to 30 days post-discharge. Assessment Between February 2014 and March 2016, 533 (10%) current and 898 (16%) former smokers were identified out of 5649 women admitted to the perinatal units. Current smokers reported an average of 11 cigarettes per day for approximately 12 years. Only 10% reported having made a quit attempt in the past year. The majority of smokers (56%) were visited by a bedside tobacco cessation counselor during their stay and 27% were contacted through the IVR system. Those counselled in the hospital were twice as likely (RR 1.98, CI 1.04-3.78) to be abstinent from smoking using intent-to-treat analysis at any time during the 30 days post-discharge. Conclusions This opt-out service reached a highly nicotine-dependent perinatal population, many of whom were receptive to the service, and it appeared to improve abstinence rates post-discharge. Opt-out tobacco cessation services may have a significant impact on the health outcomes of this population and their children.

Pregnancy, parity and periodontal disease

Many women believe that their dental condition deteriorated during pregnancy or as a result of having children. Epidemiological studies have reported an association between higher parity and tooth loss, and higher parity and periodontal attachment loss. Several possible explanations for this association exist. First, hormonal changes during pregnancy affect the immune response to bacterial plaque and drive vascular and gingival changes that may contribute to heightened gingival inflammation. These changes are transient, without irreversible loss of periodontal attachment, and post-partum resolution can be expected for most women. For women with destructive periodontal disease, the effects of pregnancy and parity are unclear. Second, it is also plausible that parity and socioeconomic position (SEP) have shared risk factors, increasing the incidence of disease or influencing its management. Education, one aspect of SEP, is an important determining factor for women's fertility rate, with a gradient of fewer children with higher educational attainment. Higher levels of education are also favourably associated with behaviours conducive to oral health, and a lower incidence of damaging health behaviours. Thus, the potential for confounding is considerable. This review examines the literature on the association between pregnancy, parity and periodontal health, and explores sociobehavioural mechanisms for the observed association.

Predictors of smoking cessation during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

To identify factors found in the research literature to be associated with smoking cessation in pregnancy.

METHODS

Electronic searches of the bibliographic databases of PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Elsevier, Scopus and ISI Web of Science were conducted to April 2017. All studies reporting factors associated with smoking cessation or continuing smoking during pregnancy were included and reviewed systematically, irrespective of study design. The Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale was used to assess the study quality. The DerSimonian & Laird random-effects model was used to conduct meta-analyses, and where effect estimates were reported for factors included in at least three studies.

RESULTS

Fifty-four studies, including 505 584 women globally who smoked before pregnancy, 15 clinical trials and 40 observational studies, were included in the review and 36 (65.5%) were considered to be of high quality. This review identified 11 socio-demographic, seven socially related, 19 smoking behaviour-related, five pregnancy-related, six health-related and six psychological factors that were associated significantly with smoking cessation during pregnancy. The most frequently observed significant factors associated with cessation were: higher level of education, pooled odds ratio (OR), 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.16 (1.80-2.84), higher socio-economic status: 1.97 (1.20-3.24), overseas maternal birth: 2.00 (1.40-2.84), Medicaid coverage or private insurance: 1.54 (1.29-1.85), living with partner or married: 1.49 (1.38-1.61), partner/other members of the household do not smoke: 0.42 (0.35-0.50), lower heaviness of smoking index score: 0.45 (0.27-0.77, lower baseline cotinine level: 0.78 (0.64-0.94), low exposure to second-hand smoking: 0.45 (0.20-1.02), not consuming alcohol before and/or during pregnancy: 2.03 (1.47-2.80), primiparity: 1.85 (1.68-2.05), planned breastfeeding:1.99 (1.94-2.05), perceived adequate pre-natal care: 1.74 (1.38-2.19), no depression: 2.65 (1.62-4.30) and low stress during pregnancy: 0.58 (0.44-0.77).

CONCLUSION

A wide range of socio-demographics, relationship, social, smoking-related, pregnancy-related, health and psychological factors have been found to predict smoking cessation in pregnancy.

The Health Behaviors of Ethnically Diverse Women at Increased Risk of Gestational Diabetes: The Behaviors Affecting Baby and You (B.A.B.Y.) Study

Objectives Cigarette smoking, low physical activity, and sedentary behavior are modifiable risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, only one study has evaluated predictors of these health risk behaviors among women at high risk for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Therefore, our goal was to examine predictors of smoking, low physical activity, and sedentary behavior during pregnancy in an ethnically diverse high risk cohort. Methods This cross-sectional analysis utilized baseline data from the Behaviors Affecting Baby and You (B.A.B.Y.) study conducted among prenatal care patients at high risk for GDM (personal history of GDM or family history of diabetes and body mass index [BMI] ≥ 25 kg/m²). Smoking was assessed using questions from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System questionnaire and sedentary behavior (top vs. lower quartiles) and moderate/vigorous physical activity (bottom vs. upper quartile) via the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire. Results Participants (n = 400) enrolled at a mean of 12.4 (SD 3.6) weeks gestation. A total of 150 (44.1%) engaged in one, 37 (10.9%) in two, and 4 (1.2%) in three risk behaviors. Lower household income and not having children at home were each associated with a 2-6 fold increased odds of smoking, high sedentary behavior, and engaging in at least one risk behavior. Being married, Hispanic or of younger age was associated with a 2-6 fold reduced odds of smoking. BMI and personal history of GDM were not associated with risk behaviors. Conclusions for Practice Findings help characterize high risk groups and inform prenatal interventions targeting these health risk behaviors.

Postpartum Health and Wellness: A Call for Quality Woman-Centered Care

Introduction The first 3 months after giving birth can be a challenging time for many women. The Postpartum Health and Wellness special issue explores this period, one that is often overlooked and under-researched. Methods This issue is designed to bring greater focus to the need for woman-centered care during the postpartum period. Articles in this issue focus on four key areas: (1) the postpartum visit and access to care, (2) the content of postpartum care and postpartum health concerns, (3) interconception care including contraception, and (4) policy, systems, and measurement. Results The submissions highlight deficits in the provision of comprehensive care and services during a critical period in women's lives. The research highlighted in this issue supports the recommendation that Maternal and Child Health leaders collaborate to create woman-centered postpartum services that are part of a coordinated system of care. Conclusion In order to achieve optimal health care in the postpartum period it is becoming more apparent that increased flexibility of services, cross-training of providers, a "no wrong door" approach, new insurance and work-place policy strategies, improved communication, and effective coordinated support within a system that values all women and families is required.

Changes in Smoking Behavior over Family Transitions: Evidence for Anticipation and Adaptation Effects

The study of changes in smoking behaviors over the life course is a promising line of research. This paper aims to analyze the temporal relation between family transitions (partnership formation, first childbirth, separation) and changes in smoking initiation and cessation. We propose a discrete-time logistic model to explore the timing of changes in terms of leads and lags effects up to three years around the event in order to measure both anticipation and adaptation mechanisms. Retrospective biographical data from the Santé et Itinéraires Professionnels (SIP) survey conducted in France in 2006 are used. Partnership formation was followed for both genders by a fall in smoking initiation and an immediate rise in smoking cessation. Childbirth was associated with increased smoking cessation immediately around childbirth, and additionally, females showed an anticipatory increase in smoking cessation up to two years before childbirth. Couple separation was accompanied by an anticipatory increase in smoking initiation for females up to two years prior to the separation, but this effect only occurred in males during separation. Our findings highlight opportunities for more targeted interventions over the life course to reduce smoking, and therefore have relevance for general practitioners and public policy elaboration.

Intergenerational Transmission of Maternal Childhood Maltreatment Exposure: Implications for Fetal Brain Development

OBJECTIVE

Growing evidence suggests the deleterious consequences of exposure to childhood maltreatment (CM) not only might endure over the exposed individual's lifespan but also might be transmitted across generations. The time windows, mechanisms, and targets of such intergenerational transmission are poorly understood. The prevailing paradigm posits that mother-to-child transmission of the effects of maternal CM likely occurs after her child's birth. The authors seek to extend this paradigm and advance a transdisciplinary framework that integrates the concepts of biological embedding of life experiences and fetal origins of health and disease risk.

METHOD

The authors posit that the period of embryonic and fetal life represents a particularly sensitive time for intergenerational transmission; that the developing brain represents a target of particular interest; and that stress-sensitive maternal-placental-fetal biological (endocrine, immune) pathways represent leading candidate mechanisms of interest.

RESULTS

The plausibility of this model is supported by theoretical considerations and empirical findings in humans and animals. The authors synthesize several research areas and identify important knowledge gaps that might warrant further study.

CONCLUSION

The scientific and public health relevance of this effort relates to achieving a better understanding of the "when," "what," and "how" of intergenerational transmission of CM, with implications for early identification of risk, prevention, and intervention.

Pulmonary Effects of Maternal Smoking on the Fetus and Child: Effects on Lung Development, Respiratory Morbidities, and Life Long Lung Health

Maternal smoking during pregnancy is the largest preventable cause of abnormal in-utero lung development. Despite well known risks, rates of smoking during pregnancy have only slightly decreased over the last ten years, with rates varying from 5-40% worldwide resulting in tens of millions of fetal exposures. Despite multiple approaches to smoking cessation about 50% of smokers will continue to smoke during pregnancy. Maternal genotype plays an important role in the likelihood of continued smoking during pregnancy and the degree to which maternal smoking will affect the fetus. The primary effects of maternal smoking on offspring lung function and health are decreases in forced expiratory flows, decreased passive respiratory compliance, increased hospitalization for respiratory infections, and an increased prevalence of childhood wheeze and asthma. Nicotine appears to be the responsible component of tobacco smoke that affects lung development, and some of the effects of maternal smoking on lung development can be prevented by supplemental vitamin C. Because nicotine is the key agent for affecting lung development, e-cigarette usage during pregnancy is likely to be as dangerous to fetal lung development as is maternal smoking.

A population study of first and subsequent pregnancy smoking behaviors in Ohio

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to identify maternal characteristics associated with non-smoking during a subsequent pregnancy after first pregnancy smoking.

STUDY DESIGN

We conducted a retrospective population-based analysis of Ohio vital birth records from 2007 to 2013. We used logistic regression to calculate adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals for detection of characteristics associated with non-smoking during a subsequent pregnancy after first pregnancy smoking.

RESULTS

Among 75 190 mothers, 75.6% were non-smokers and 13.7% were smokers during both pregnancies. During their first pregnancy, 49.7% of 15 075 smokers quit. Of them, 50.1% remained non-smokers during their subsequent pregnancy. Women who reduced, but continued smoking during their first pregnancy, were more than five times as likely to smoke during their subsequent pregnancy than women who quit (odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 2.85 (2.43 to 3.35) vs 0.55 (0.45 to 0.67)).

CONCLUSION

Interventions targeting complete cessation, rather than reduction in smoking among first-time mothers, may be the most effective at optimizing long-term health benefits.

Changes in Marijuana use over the Transition into Marriage

Reductions in substance use tend to coincide with marriage, as both may occur during emerging adulthood. During the transition to marriage, it is possible that one's spouse may be the influence that causes the reduction in substance use. Data on participants (N = 471 couples) for this report are taken from a longitudinal study of early marriage. The objective of the current analysis is to determine if having a spouse who uses marijuana is associated with a greater likelihood of one's own use. Additionally, we are interested in spousal influence and cessation. The findings support spousal influence. Husbands are more likely to start using marijuana if their wives use marijuana, but the reverse is not true. Husbands also are more likely to stop using if their spouses do not use. During the transition into marriage, the drug use of one spouse does affect the other. However, this influence appears to be unidirectional, with wives influencing their husbands more often.

Exposure to Tobacco Metabolites via Breast Milk and Infant Weight Gain: A Population-Based Study

BACKGROUND

Although the immutable benefits of breastfeeding are well documented, information on the potential consequences of exposure to tobacco metabolites specifically via breastfeeding is sparse.

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to conduct the first study of the association between exposure to tobacco metabolites specifically through breastfeeding and infant weight gain.

METHODS

We used historical data from the US Collaborative Perinatal Project. Mothers were classified as nonsmokers, light smokers (1-19 cigarettes/day), and heavy (20+ cigarettes/day) smokers. In-hospital feeding type was observed during a nursery stay after delivery. We conducted stratified analyses among average-for-gestational-age (AGA; N = 23 571) and small-for-gestational-age (SGA; N = 2552) infants. We isolated the effect of exposure to tobacco metabolites specifically through breastfeeding.

RESULTS

Overall, maternal smoking was associated with change in weight-for-length z-score in a dose-response manner. Change in weight z-score was most pronounced among SGA infants of heavy smokers (breastfed: 0.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.12-0.94; formula fed: 0.17; 95% CI, 0.03-0.30). Exposure to tobacco metabolites specifically through breastfeeding was not associated with additional weight gain among AGA infants. Among the much smaller sample of SGA infants, exposure specifically through breastfeeding was associated with marginally significant additional weight gain (0.46; 95% CI, 0.00-0.91) among infants of heavy smokers.

CONCLUSION

Our findings are in accord with recommendations by health agencies for smokers to breastfeed. However, SGA infants exposed to tobacco metabolites via breastfeeding by heavy smokers appear to gain weight more rapidly than other infants. Practical implications of our findings are discussed.

The Role of Nicotine in the Effects of Maternal Smoking during Pregnancy on Lung Development and Childhood Respiratory Disease. Implications for Dangers of E-Cigarettes

Use of e-cigarettes, especially among the young, is increasing at near-exponential rates. This is coupled with a perception that e-cigarettes are safe and with unlimited advertising geared toward vulnerable populations, the groups most likely to smoke or vape during pregnancy. There is now wide appreciation of the dangers of maternal smoking during pregnancy and the lifelong consequences this has on offspring lung function, including the increased risk of childhood wheezing and subsequent asthma. Recent evidence strongly supports that much of the effect of smoking during pregnancy on offspring lung function is mediated by nicotine, making it highly likely that e-cigarette use during pregnancy will have the same harmful effects on offspring lung function and health as do conventional cigarettes. In fact, the evidence for nicotine being the mediator of harm of conventional cigarettes may be most compelling for its effects on lung development. This raises concerns about both the combined use of e-cigarettes plus conventional cigarettes by smokers during pregnancy as well as the use of e-cigarettes by e-cigarette-only users who think them safe or by those sufficiently addicted to nicotine to not be able to quit e-cigarette usage during pregnancy. Thus, it is important for health professionals to be aware of the risks of e-cigarette usage during pregnancy, particularly as it pertains to offspring respiratory health.

"I Was a Full Time Proper Smoker": A Qualitative Exploration of Smoking in the Home after Childbirth among Women Who Relapse Postpartum

Background

Many women stop smoking during pregnancy but relapse shortly afterwards, potentially putting their infants at risk of secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure. Women who were able to stop during pregnancy may be a motivated group, receptive to making behaviour changes postpartum to protect their infant from SHS exposure. Understanding more about their experiences of relapse, and if this influences home smoking behaviours and children’s exposure to SHS in the home may help to inform intervention development to prevent infant SHS exposure.

Methods

Guided by interpretative phenomenological methodology we conducted and analysed nine semi-structured interviews with women who quit smoking during pregnancy, but relapsed ≤3 months postpartum.

Findings

Central to mothers’ accounts of their smoking behaviours during pregnancy and postpartum was their desire to be a ‘responsible mother’. Mothers described using strategies to protect their infant from SHS exposure, and held strong negative attitudes towards other smoking parents. After relapsing, mothers appeared to reposition themselves as ‘social’ or ‘occasional’ smokers rather than ‘regular’ smokers.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that interventions to prevent/reduce infants' home SHS exposure should build on mothers' intentions to be responsible parents. As mothers who relapse principally view themselves as ‘social’ or ‘occasional’ smokers, interventions that are highlighted as relevant for women with these types of smoking patterns may be more likely to be responded to, and, ultimately, be effective.

Women's Longitudinal Patterns of Smoking during the Pre-Conception, Pregnancy and Postnatal Period: Evidence from the UK Infant Feeding Survey

BACKGROUND

An understanding of women's longitudinal patterns of smoking during the pre-conception, pregnancy and postnatal period and the factors associated with these patterns could help better inform smoking cessation services and interventions.

METHODS

Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to empirically identify women's smoking patterns in a sample of 10,768 mothers from the 2010 UK Infant Feeding Survey. Multinomial logistic regression was used to identify characteristics associated with these patterns.

RESULTS

LCA identified five distinct smoking patterns during the pre-conception, pregnancy and postnatal period: "non-smokers" (74.1% of women); "pregnancy-inspired quitters" (10.2%); "persistent smokers" (10.1%); "temporary quitters" (4.4%); and postnatal quitters (1.1%). Smoking patterns varied markedly according to socio-demographic variables and parity. After adjusting for these variables, mothers who lived during pregnancy with a partner who smoked were more likely to be temporary quitters (aOR 2.64, 95% CI 1.74-3.99) or persistent smokers (aOR 3.32, 95% CI 2.34-4.72) than pregnancy-inspired quitters. Mothers who lived during pregnancy with someone else other than a partner who smoked were more likely to be persistent smokers (aOR 2.34, 95% CI 1.38-3.97) or postnatal quitters (aOR 2.97, 95% CI 1.07-8.24) than pregnancy-inspired quitters. Mothers given information on how their partner could stop smoking if they lived during pregnancy with a smoking partner were less likely to be persistent smokers (aOR 0.42, 95% CI 0.27-0.65) than pregnancy-inspired quitters.

CONCLUSION

Health professionals should ask about smoking at every opportunity, and refer women who self-report as current smokers to an evidence based smoking cessation service.

Efficacy of a Nurse-Delivered Intervention to Prevent and Delay Postpartum Return to Smoking: The Quit for Two Trial

INTRODUCTION

Most pregnant women who quit smoking return to smoking postpartum. Trials to prevent this return have been unsuccessful. We tested the efficacy of a nurse-delivered intervention in maintaining smoking abstinence after delivery among pregnant women who quit smoking that was tailored on their high risk of relapse (eg, had strong intentions to return).

METHODS

We recruited 382 English-speaking spontaneous pregnant quitters from 14 prenatal clinics and randomized them to receive either a smoking abstinence booklet plus newsletters about parenting and stress (control) or a nurse-delivered smoking abstinence intervention that differed in intensity for the high and low risk groups. Our primary outcome was smoking abstinence at 12 months postpartum.

RESULTS

Using intent-to-treat analyses, there was a high rate of biochemically validated smoking abstinence at 12 months postpartum but no arm differences (

CONTROL

36% [95% confidence interval [CI]: 29-43] vs.

INTERVENTION

35% [95% CI: 28-43], P = .81). Among women at low risk of returning to smoking, the crude abstinence rate was significantly higher in the control arm (46%) than in the intervention arm (33%); among women at high risk of returning to smoking, the crude abstinence rate was slightly lower but not different in the control arm (31%) than in the intervention arm (37%).

CONCLUSIONS

Low-risk women fared better with a minimal intervention that focused on parenting skills and stress than when they received an intensive smoking abstinence intervention. The opposite was true for women who were at high risk of returning to smoking. Clinicians might need to tailor their approach based on whether women are at high or low risk of returning to smoking.

IMPLICATIONS

Results suggest that high-risk and low-risk women might benefit from different types of smoking relapse interventions. Those who are lower risk of returning to smoking might benefit from stress reduction that is devoid of smoking content, whereas those who are higher risk might benefit from smoking relapse prevention.

A content analysis of attributions for resuming smoking or maintaining abstinence in the post-partum period

A significant proportion of women who self-quit smoking during pregnancy subsequently relapse to smoking post-partum. This study examined free-text responses describing attributions of smoking relapse or maintained abstinence at 1, 8, and 12 months post-partum. This study reports secondary analyses from a randomized clinical trial (N = 504) for preventing post-partum smoking relapse. At each follow-up, one survey item asked the participant to describe why she resumed smoking or what helped her maintain abstinence. A thematic content analysis was conducted on responses from the 472 participants (94.0 % of the original sample) who returned at least 1 survey. Content analyses revealed several themes for participants' reasons for relapse and abstinence. Stress was the most frequently cited reason for smoking relapse across all follow-ups. Health concerns for children and family was the most common reason provided for remaining abstinent. Chi square analyses revealed differences in written responses related to income, age, and depressive symptoms. Overall, these findings suggest that during the post-partum period, stress and familial health concerns are perceived contributors to smoking relapse and abstinence, respectively. These results confirmed key risk and protective factors that have been identified through other assessment modalities (e.g., quantitative surveys and focus groups). They also provide support for targeting these variables in the development, content, and delivery of future post-partum smoking relapse-prevention interventions. The high response rate to these open-ended attribution questions suggests that future studies would benefit from including these and similar items to allow for additional insight into participant perspectives.

Association Between Neighborhood-Level Smoking and Individual Smoking Risk: Maternal Smoking Among Latina Women in Pennsylvania

OBJECTIVE

We examined whether or not high maternal smoking rates at the neighborhood level increase the likelihood of individual smoking by Latina women in the three months prior to and during pregnancy, independent of other individual and neighborhood factors.

METHODS

This study was observational in nature, using linked vital statistics records for 24,443 Latina women in Pennsylvania (2009-2010) and U.S. Census data for 2,398 census tracts. We used multilevel logistic regression models to determine the individual odds of self-reported maternal smoking given different census tract-level rates of maternal smoking in the previous three years (2006-2008), adjusting for maternal and census-tract characteristics, including ethnic density, population density, and poverty.

RESULTS

Higher levels of maternal smoking at the census-tract level were associated with increased individual odds of smoking among Latina mothers. In the fully adjusted model, a 10% increase in the neighborhood smoking rate was associated with a 1.28 (95% confidence interval 1.22, 1.34) increase in the individual odds of smoking.

CONCLUSION

Latina women living in census tracts where more women have smoked during or immediately prior to pregnancy are themselves at higher risk of smoking during this period.

Reducing Underserved Children's Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A Randomized Counseling Trial With Maternal Smokers

INTRODUCTION

Addressing maternal smoking and child tobacco smoke exposure is a public health priority. Standard care advice and self-help materials to help parents reduce child tobacco smoke exposure is not sufficient to promote change in underserved populations. We tested the efficacy of a behavioral counseling approach with underserved maternal smokers to reduce infant's and preschooler's tobacco smoke exposure.

DESIGN

A two-arm randomized trial: enhanced behavior counseling (experimental) versus enhanced standard care (control). Assessment staff members were blinded.

SETTING/PARTICIPANTS

Three hundred randomized maternal smokers were recruited from low-income urban communities. Participants had a child aged <4 years exposed to two or more maternal cigarettes/day at baseline.

INTERVENTION

Philadelphia Family Rules for Establishing Smoke-free Homes (FRESH) included 16 weeks of counseling. Using a behavioral shaping approach within an individualized cognitive-behavioral therapy framework, counseling reinforced efforts to adopt increasingly challenging tobacco smoke exposure-protective behaviors with the eventual goal of establishing a smoke-free home.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Primary outcomes were end-of-treatment child cotinine and reported tobacco smoke exposure (maternal cigarettes/day exposed). Secondary outcomes were end-of-treatment 7-day point-prevalence self-reported cigarettes smoked/day and bioverified quit status.

RESULTS

Participation in FRESH behavioral counseling was associated with lower child cotinine (β=-0.18, p=0.03) and reported tobacco smoke exposure (β=-0.57, p=0.03) at the end of treatment. Mothers in behavioral counseling smoked fewer cigarettes/day (β=-1.84, p=0.03) and had higher bioverified quit rates compared with controls (13.8% vs 1.9%, χ(2)=10.56, p<0.01). There was no moderating effect of other smokers living at home.

CONCLUSIONS

FRESH behavioral counseling reduces child tobacco smoke exposure and promotes smoking quit rates in a highly distressed and vulnerable population.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT02117947.

The Relationship Between Postpartum Depression and Perinatal Cigarette Smoking: An Analysis of PRAMS Data

INTRODUCTION

This study examines the relationship between postpartum depression (PPD) and cigarette smoking from prior to pregnancy to postpartum.

METHODS

The study sample consisted of 29,654 U.S. women who reported smoking in the 3months prior to pregnancy and for whom data on PPD were available from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS). Two sets of analyses were conducted. The first compared smoking at 2 time points (prior to pregnancy and postpartum) and the second at 3 time points (prior to pregnancy, during pregnancy, and postpartum). PPD was defined as responses of "often" or "always" to 2 questions: "Since your baby was born, how often have you felt down, depressed, or sad?" and "Since your new baby was born, how often have you had little interest or little pleasure in doing things?"

RESULTS

Overall, 22% of the sample endorsed PPD symptoms. In the 2 time-point analysis, controlling for known confounders, participants whose smoking was reduced or unchanged postpartum were about 30% more likely to have PPD compared to those who quit (OR: 1.34; 95% CI=1.10-1.60, p=0.001; OR:1.32; 95% CI: 1.10-1.50, p<0.001 respectively). Participants who increased smoking postpartum were 80% more likely to have PPD compared those who quit (OR: 1.80; 95% CI: 1.50-2.30, p<0.001). In the 3 time-point analysis, participants who continued smoking at any level during pregnancy and postpartum had 1.48 times the odds of reporting PPD (95% CI: 1.26, 1.73) compared to those who quit during pregnancy and remained quit postpartum. Participants who quit during pregnancy but resumed postpartum had 1.28 times the odds of reporting PPD (95% CI: 1.06, 1.53) compared to those who quit during pregnancy and remained quit postpartum.

CONCLUSION

Results suggest an association among women who smoke cigarettes prior to pregnancy between PPD and continued smoking during pregnancy and postpartum.

Behavioral couples therapy for smoking cessation: A pilot randomized clinical trial

Behavioral couples therapy (BCT) has been found to improve long-term abstinence rates in alcohol- and substance-dependent populations but has not been tested for smoking cessation. This pilot study examined the feasibility and acceptability of BCT for smoking-discordant couples. Forty-nine smokers (smoking >10 cigarettes/day) with nonsmoking partners were randomized to receive a couples social support (BCT-S) intervention or an individually delivered, standard smoking cessation treatment (ST). The couples were married or had been cohabiting for at least 1 year, with partners who had never smoked or had not used tobacco in 1 year. Both treatments included 7 weekly sessions and 8 weeks of nicotine replacement therapy. Participants were followed for 6 months posttreatment. The Partner Interaction Questionnaire was used to measure perceived smoking-specific partner support. Participants were 67% male and 88% White. Biochemically verified cessation rates were 40.9%, 50%, and 45% in BCT-S and 59.1%, 50%, and 55% in ST at end of treatment, after 3 month, and after 6 months, respectively, and did not differ significantly between treatment conditions at any time point. Perceived smoking-specific partner support at posttreatment did not significantly differ between treatment groups. Results of this pilot study do not provide support for the efficacy of BCT in smoking-discordant couples.

Understanding sociodemographic and sociocultural factors that characterize tobacco use and cessation during pregnancy among women in the Dominican Republic

Tobacco use and exposure are serious public health problems that threaten to undermine improvements in maternal and child health, and add to already existing poor pregnancy outcomes in many low- and middle-income countries. The purpose of this study is to explore factors that characterize tobacco use and cessation during pregnancy among women in the Dominican Republic. This study was part of a larger trial and includes a sample of women who participated in baseline surveillance and community assessments (n = 613). Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariable analyses were conducted. Overall, 93.31 % (n = 572) of women experienced a past/current pregnancy and 22.44 % (n = 127) smoked during a past or current pregnancy. Among women who had smoked, 34.13 % (n = 43) stopped smoking due to a pregnancy, and 46.03 % (n = 58) were advised by a health care provider to quit smoking because of pregnancy. Women who were older, Catholic, and had a mother who used tobacco were three times more likely to smoke during a past or current pregnancy. Inability to read or write was also significantly associated with smoking during pregnancy. Women who were able to read and write and were from a tobacco growing community were three times more likely to quit smoking during pregnancy. This study provides a preliminary understanding of factors influencing tobacco use and cessation among pregnant women in the Dominican Republic. It also informs a critical area for public health research and intervention, indicating opportunities to engage the health care provider community in intervening with pregnant women and their families.

What distinguishes successful from unsuccessful tobacco smoking cessation? Data from a study of young adults (TEMPO)

INTRODUCTION

Smoking prevalence rates among young people are high in many countries. Although attempts to quit smoking increasingly occur in young adulthood, many former smokers relapse. We compared individuals who successfully quit smoking from those who relapsed on socio-demographic, psychological and health factors.

METHODS

Data come from telephone interviews conducted in 2011 with participants of the TEMPO community-based study (ages 18-37 years, France). To study the likelihood of successful cessation vs. smoking relapse, we restricted the study sample to current or former smokers (n = 600) and conducted multinomial logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

43% of participants were current smokers who never quit for an extended period and, 33% former smokers and 24% current smokers who relapsed after extended cessation. In multivariate analyses female sex, parental status and illegal drug use were associated with both successful and unsuccessful smoking cessation. Factors specifically associated with a low probability of smoking cessation were job strain and symptoms of hyperactivity/inattention, while occupational grade was associated with smoking relapse.

CONCLUSIONS

Work and family circumstances, co-occurring substance use and psychological difficulties may influence smoking cessation in young adults. These characteristics should be considered by individual and collective interventions aiming to help young smokers quit successfully.

The effects of smoked nicotine on measures of subjective states and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis hormones in women during the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle

OBJECTIVES

To determine the acute effects of cigarette smoking on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hormones and subjective states as a function of the menstrual cycle in nicotine-dependent women.

METHODS

Seventeen healthy nicotine-dependent women were studied during the follicular and/or luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Because of observation of a possible bimodal distribution of progesterone levels within the luteal phase group, we performed a set of a posteriori analyses. Therefore, we divided the luteal group into a low progesterone and a high progesterone groups.

RESULTS

Smoked nicotine activated HPA, measured by adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH), cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) response and affected subjective states in both follicular and luteal phases, with increased "High," "Rush," and decreased "Craving." The HPA stimulation revealed a blunting of ACTH response. There was only modest evidence for a blunting of subjective state responses in the luteal phase. However, upon post hoc analyses, the high progesterone luteal group showed a marked blunting of measures of subjective states and a blunted ACTH response. Examining the association between hormone and measures of subjective states revealed tentative associations of ACTH stimulation with increased "Rush" and "Craving," and DHEA stimulation with increased "Craving."

CONCLUSIONS

This pilot study suggests that menstrual cycle phase differences in progesterone levels may attenuate nicotine's addictive effects via diminution of its reinforcing properties and augmentation of its aversive effects interfering with the pleasure associated with cigarette smoking.

Better Off Alone Than With a Smoker: The Influence of Partner's Smoking Behavior in Later Life

OBJECTIVES

We examine how the likelihood of smoking cessation among smokers and patterns of adherence to smoking cessation differ by partnership status, partnership changes, and partners' smoking behavior. The data are a nationally representative sample of smokers in middle and older age from the Health and Retirement Study (1992-2010).

METHOD

We use multivariate logistic regression models to analyze the likelihood of smoking cessation among smokers and then estimate adherence to smoking cessation using discrete-time event history models.

RESULTS

Those partnered with smokers and those whose partners relapse into smoking are much less likely than the unpartnered to quit smoking and adhere to smoking cessation. Respondents partnered with non-smokers and those whose partners quit smoking are more likely to quit smoking than the unpartnered. Those recently widowed, divorced, and repartnered have similar smoking changes to the consistently unpartnered.

DISCUSSION

Being partnered does not always mean healthier behavior changes. Rather, the association between partnership status and smoking changes depends greatly on the health behavior changes of the partner. The partnership context at the time of smoking cessation sets the stage for longer term patterns of adherence, shaping health in older age.