Xinguang Chen¹, Bonita Stanton, MD, Xiaoming Li, PhD¹, and Seetha Shankaran, MD³. (1) Pediatric Prevention Research Center, Wayne State University, 4201 St. Antoine Street, UHC 6D, Detroit, MI 48201, 313-745-0564, jimchen@med.wayne.edu, (2) Children's Hospital of Michigan, Wayne State University, 3901 Beaubien Street, Detroit, MI 48201

Context: To identify factors associated with increased and decreased likelihood of tobacco use during pregnancy to reduce maternal smoking and fetus' exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. Objective: To assess the impact of early onset of cigarette smoking as a determinant of smoking cessation during pregnancy. Design: An associative analysis of onset age and current smoking behavior among pregnant and non-pregnant women with cross-sectional data from the 2000 and 2001 National Household Survey Data. Setting and subjects: A random sample of 35,687 women (1,805 pregnant) 15 through 34 years of age in the United States in 2000 and 2001. Outcome measures: Age of smoking onset, lifetime daily smoking, current smoking, 30-day smoking abstinence. Results: Pregnant women were twice more likely to stop smoking than non-pregnant women (47.7% vs. 23.3%). The age of smoking initiation was positively associated with 30-day abstinence during pregnancy regardless of age, ethnicity, marital status, education attainment, gestation age, and years of cigarette smoking. After controlling for covariates, the odds ratio for 30-day abstinence among lifetime daily smokers during pregnancy was 1.75 for women who started smoking at Ан15 years of age compared to those who started at <15 years of age. Conclusions: Early smoking onset was significantly associated with reduced likelihood of smoking abstinence during pregnancy. Preventing smoking onset at early ages, especially before high school age, provides an alternative strategy to reduce maternal cigarette smoking. Likewise, targeted smoking cessation programs according to age of smoking onset may be indicated.

Learning Objectives: The participants are expected to learn

• The effect of early onset on tobacco use during pregrancy;
• understand the importance of early tobacco prevention in protecting both the fetus and the mother.

Keywords: Tobacco, Maternal and Child Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.