Factors associated with quit attempts and quitting among Eastern Hungarian women who smoked at the time of pregnancy.

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this research was to assess factors associated with quit attempts and successful smoking cessation among a sample of socioeconomically disadvantaged pregnant women living in Eastern Hungary.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In-person interviews were conducted among 201 women residing in Eastern Hungary who self-identified as occasional or regular smokers at the time they learned they were pregnant.

RESULTS

54% of the women were smokers at the time they learned they were pregnant. Just over half tried to quit, but only 20% were successful. Factors associated with reduced likelihood of quit attempts included being a regular (vs. occasional) smoker (OR = 0.36, 95% CI 0.13-1.00) and being Roma (vs. non-Roma) (OR = 0.32, 95% CI 0.14-0.72). Women who completed high school were 7% times more likely to quit (OR = 7.5, 95% CI 1.68-33.2) and those who were employed were 7% times more likely to quit (OR = 7.6, 95% CI 1.88-30.35). Regular smokers were 88% less likely to quit than occasional smokers.

DISCUSSION

Smoking cessation interventions targeting pregnant women are needed in Eastern Hungary. Efforts to integrate smoking cessation into the current excellent pre-natal care and health visitor program will reach most women who are pregnant or who have given birth within the preceding 3 years.