Background: Although many women quit smoking during pregnancy, the majority resume smoking shortly after giving birth.
Objectives: To test a program to prevent smoking relapse in the postpartum period by comparing the rates of continuous smoking abstinence, daily smoking, and smoking cessation self-efficacy in treatment and control groups.
Methods: In a randomized clinical trial, nurses provided face-to-face, in-hospital counseling sessions at birth, followed by telephone counseling. The target population included women who quit smoking during pregnancy and who gave birth at one of five hospitals. The 254 participating women were interviewed 6 months after delivery and assessed biochemically to determine smoking status.
Results: The 6-month continuous smoking abstinence rate was 38% in the treatment group and 27% in the control group (odds ratio [OR] = 1.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] .96 - 2.78). Significantly more control (48%) than treatment (34%) group participants reported smoking daily (OR = 1.80, 95% CI = 1.08 - 2.99). Smoking cessation self-efficacy did not vary significantly between the groups.
Conclusions: Smoking cessation interventions focusing on the prenatal period have failed to achieve long-term abstinence. Interventions can be strengthened if they are extended into the postpartum period.