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Jason Roberts, MPH, Division of Health Surveillance, Vermont Department of Health, 108 Cherry Street, PO Box 70, Burlington, VT 05402-0070, 802-863-7303, jrobert@vdh.state.vt.us
Methods: Assessed the demographics and smoking prevalence of pregnant women in Vermont using 2000–2002 Vermont Birth Certificate data. In 2000, VT was the first state to adopt the new US standard birth certificate questions that measure pre-pregnancy smoking and smoking by trimester. In prior years birth certificates did not measure pre-pregnancy smoking or smoking by trimester.
Results: In 2000–2002, 23.7% of pregnant Vermont women smoked during the three months prior to becoming pregnant. Pre-pregnancy smoking was highest among women ages less than 20 and lowest among women ages 40+ (54.6% vs. 10.1%). In 2000-2002, 20.1% of pregnant women smoked at some time during their pregnancy, compared to 17.4% in 1997-1999 prior to the new birth certificate questions. The highest smoking rates during pregnancy were among women ages less than 20 (47%) and women with less than a high school education (56.3%), lowest among ages 40+ (9.3%) and women with 4+ years of college (2.5%). Of women who smoked before pregnancy, 25.4% quit prior to their second trimester. The quit rate did not vary by age, but varied by mother’s education level (less than high school education 15.1% quit rate, 4+ years of college 54.1%). Analyses relating to race were not included due to the small number of non-white respondents (97.8% white)
Discussion: Smoking among pregnant women remains a problem in Vermont. Younger women and women with lower education have the highest rates of smoking. Women with less education are the least likely to quit when pregnant.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the poster the reader will have
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.