Author:

Keywords:

Pregnancy, Smoking, Depression

Abstract:

Background: Smoking during pregnancy causes significant fetal and maternal morbidity. There is a massive expansion of tobacco use in developing countries and an accelerating growth in women’s smoking in the developed world. Besides physical health risks there seems to be an influence of smoking on feelings of dysphoria and depression during pregnancy. Aim: To assess the presence and evolution of depression between smokers and non-smokers, before and after delivery. Method: This was an observational, prospective, non-interventional study. Participants were 600 pregnant women, included from September 2008 till March 2010 who responded to a questionnaire about their smoking habits, passive smoking and feelings of dysphoria or depression (Beck Depression Inventory). Smoking status was validated in 300 respondents by means of CO measurement. Smokers answered additional questions regarding their nicotine dependency (Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence), smoking functions (Modified Reasons for Smoking Scale), their quit-attempts and support received from caregivers. Three measurement moments were scheduled at < 16 weeks, 32 - 34 weeks of pregnancy and 6 - 12 weeks postpartum. Results: Preliminary findings suggest that women who quit smoking or never smoked score lower on the BDI-scale: mean at moment 1: 6,94 vs 11,32 (Mann-Whitney U, p≤0.001); moment 2: 6,85 vs 11,61 (p≤0.001); moment 3: 5,54 vs 7,63 (p=0.009). Implications for practice: Besides a better overall physical health of mother and child, never smoking and/or smoking cessation is associated with lower feelings of dysphoria of the expectant mother. Midwives can use these findings to encourage smoking cessation in prenatal care.