The readiness of women postpartum to participate in smoking cessation counselling

Objectives: Smoking after pregnancy implies health risks for both the woman and the newborn. Smoking cessation interventions postpartum can prevent relapse in women who quit during pregnancy, protect the infant from environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), and motivate smokers to quit. The readiness of women postpartum to participate in smoking cessation counselling is described. Methods: In 6 maternity wards n = 2790 women were screened for smoking, n = 1128 smoked before pregnancy. Of these n = 869 gave informed consent. Information on sociodemographic status and smoking behaviour is available for n = 642 participating women and for n = 217 non-participating women. Results: No differences between women participating and non-participating were found in age (p > .05) and having a partner (p > .05). Participants were slightly higher educated (p < .001) and were mainly in maintenance (44%) or in precontemplation stage of change (38%). The proportions were 44% and 22% in the group of the non-participating women. Conclusions: The readiness of women postpartum to participate in smoking cessation counselling was high. By reaching abstinent women and women not motivated to quit, a target group was addressed that barely benefits from currently existing preventive activities. Maternity wards are an effective location for addressing smoking behaviour of mothers.