Patterns and predictors of smoking cessation among British women

Reducing the prevalence of cigarette smoking among adults is a key health p romotion target in counties where tobacco consumption is the major preventa ble cause of ill health. This study describes the patterns and predictors o f smoking cessation in a representative British survey of women aged 16 to 65. Ir examines the influence on quitting of five factors: socio-economic s tatus; domestic circumstances; psychological health; tobacco dependence; an d pregnancy status. Smoking status was measured at the point of recruitment to the study and at I gear and 2 year follow-up interviews Quit rates at b oth follow-up points were significantly related to three of the factors: so cio-economic status; tobacco dependence; and pregnancy status Tobacco depen dence, as measured by average daily cigarette consumption, was the most pow erful predictor of a woman's chances of being an ex-smoker at both the I ye ar and 2 year follow-up interviews. The implications of the findings for he alth promotion policy are discussed.