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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Katherine F. Isselmann, BS¹, Bradley Collins, PhD¹, and Andrea McCoy, MD². (1) Department of Public Health, Temple University, 1701 N. 13th Street, Weiss Hall (265-61), Philadelphia, PA 19122, 2152045629, kfi100@temple.edu, (2) Pediatrics/General Pediatrics, Temple University Children's Hospital, 3509 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140

Background: Even with state-of-the-art interventions for pregnant smokers, less than 40% are able to quit smoking during pregnancy, and of those who do quit, around 70% will relapse within a few weeks of delivery. Thus, efforts to prevent relapse are key to address maternal and child health concerns related to tobacco. Researchers have found positive relationships between breastfeeding and smoking relapse that warrant further attention. Objectives: To test the efficacy of a brief health education intervention to prevent postpartum smoking relapse. We hypothesized that breastfeeding during the first three months after childbirth will predict lower reported smoking rates, and that women receiving information about breast feeding, smoking relapse, and their potential relationship would have lower smoking rates than those receiving smoking relapse prevention information alone. Methods: Female participants were either recent ex-smokers or were actively smoking prior to admission to an urban hospital's postpartum clinic, and had given birth within the previous 96 hours. Following informed consent procedures, eligible women were randomly given materials f or either the intervention (breastfeeding plus smoking relapse information) or the control group (relapse prevention alone). Both groups were evaluated through an interviewer-administered survey at baseline and at 1- and 3-month follow-up. Results: Accrual is ongoing. We project 130 participants will complete a three month follow-up prior to presentation. Data will be presented on the efficacy of this intervention related to breastfeeding duration rates and smoking cessation success, along with infant health outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

• 1)Describe the relationship between breastfeeding and smoking cessation during the postpartum period.
• 2)Articulate the importance of smoking relapse prevention during the postpartum period.
• 3)Discuss the possible methods used to evaluate the health outcomes of a smoking relapse prevention in a maternal population.

Keywords: Maternal Health, Breastfeeding

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered