Postpartum return to smoking: Staging a "suspended" behavior

Two hundred fifty-six pregnant women who had quit smoking were classified i nto the precontemplation (PC), contemplation (C), preparation (PA), or acti on (A) stages of change for postpartum smoking cessation based on a 3-item algorithm assessing personal goals, self-efficacy, and smoking behavior. Lo gistic regression and event history analyses indicated group differences in return to smoking at 6 weeks and 3, 6, and 12 months postpartum. The perce ntage of women who returned to postpartum smoking was highest in the precon templation stage and decreased with each subsequent stage, that is, at 6 we eks 83% of PCs, 64% of Cs, 35% of PAs, and 24% of As had returned to smokin g. Results lend support for the stages of change for postpartum smoking abs tinence. Stage-based interventions may be developed to assist women in main taining abstinence postpartum.