Perceived Tobacco Smoking Risk and Predictors of Smoking During Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Predictive Correlational Study.

objectiveTo examine the strength of perception of tobacco smoking risk, maternal-fetal attachment, and perceived stress as factors for predicting pregnant women's smoking status, after controlling for socioeconomic variables.

methodsThis is a cross-sectional, predictive correlational study with a convenience sample recruited from a private prenatal clinic and a federally funded community health clinic in one central Illinois county. Women 18 years or older, at 24 weeks gestation or greater, were surveyed during their prenatal appointments, utilizing the Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, the Modified Perception of Pregnancy Risk Questionnaire (MPPRQ), and obstetric, demographic and socioeconomic questions to determine if maternal-fetal attachment, perceived stress, and perceived risks from smoking tobacco (smoking) predict smoking status during pregnancy.

resultsWe found higher perceived smoking tobacco risk predicted women were likely to not currently use tobacco [p = .004, Exp(B) = 0.96, 95% CI (0.94, 0.99)]. Specifically, for each increase of 1 out of 100 on the MPPRQ scale, a woman is 4% less likely to currently smoke (smoke) tobacco. Maternal-fetal attachment and perceived stress did not predict smoking status.

conclusionA woman's choice to continue to smoke during pregnancy is complex and personal. Understanding the impact of her personal perception for risk of smoking can assist providers with conversations and improve interventions, leading to increased cessation success and subsequently improve pregnancy and neonatal health outcomes.