Changes in the smoking behavior of pregnant women andtheir family members during pregnancy: A cross-sectional study in China

INTRODUCTION: Studies regarding the changes in smoking behavior of pregnant women have been mostly conducted in high income countries but rarely in China. This study thus focused on investigating the changes in smoking behavior among pregnant women and their family members in China, both before and during pregnancy. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out at nine Women and Children’s Hospitals in Shanghai, China, in 2014. A total of 2831 gestational households were recruited. The chi-squared test, paired sample t-test and logistical regression analysis were used during statistical analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of smoking for all household members significantly declined during pregnancy: 76.2% of the pregnant women, 19.2% of their husbands and 14.0% of other family members quit smoking entirely. The average daily cigarette consumption rate decreased from 5.9 to 0.9 among pregnant women, 11.4 to 9.5 for husbands, and 11.4 to 9.5 for other family members (paired sample t-test, p<0.001). The likelihood that husbands continued smoking during pregnancy was significantly lower for those with a shorter history of smoking, had a lower daily cigarette consumption rate and a household registration in Shanghai. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of smoking among pregnant women, husbands and other family members significantly declines during pregnancy. Thus, pregnancy is most likely a key period in which to provide families with health education regarding the effects of smoking, both during the pregnancy period and in general. Intervention programs designed to reduce smoking among husbands during pregnancy should focus on those with a long history of smoking, a high rate of daily cigarette consumption, and those with household registration not in Shanghai.