Prevalence and predictors of smoking and quitting during pregnancy in Serbia: results of a nationally representative survey

Middle- and low-income countries rarely have national surveillance data on smoking in pregnancy. This nationwide population-representative survey investigated pre- and post-partum smoking and their predictors in Serbia. Using stratified two-stage random cluster sampling, 2,721 women in 66 health care centres were interviewed at 3 and 6 months post-partum. 37.2% of women smoked at some point in pregnancy (average 8.8 cigarettes/per day). Smoking at pregnancy onset and during pregnancy was associated with smoking by others in the home and lower education and family socio-economic status. Almost a quarter of women (23.2%) who quit smoking during pregnancy did not relapse 6 months post-partum. Older women, primiparae, university students and white-collar workers were more likely to successfully quit smoking. More than a half of women were exposed to SHS in their homes (57.6%) and 84.6% allowed smoking in their homes. Smoking during pregnancy in Serbia was two- to threefold higher than in the most affluent western countries. Target groups for action are women with lower education and socio-economic status, as well as health professionals and family members who smoke.