Smoking and vaping patterns during pregnancy and the postpartum: A longitudinal UK cohort survey.

Introduction:
This text provides an analysis of the smoking and vaping patterns during pregnancy and the postpartum period. It presents the results of a longitudinal cohort survey of women in England and Scotland, exploring the prevalence, frequency, and reasons for vaping throughout pregnancy and postpartum. The study also examines the temporal patterns in individuals' smoking and vaping habits during pregnancy and postpartum. Understanding these patterns can help inform public health policies and interventions to support smoking cessation during pregnancy.

Key Points:

* The study recruited 750 women, aged 16 or over, who were current smokers, vapers, or had smoked in the 3 months before pregnancy.
* Vaping prevalence was 15.9% in early pregnancy, 17.8% in late pregnancy, and 23.1% in the postpartum period.
* Most pregnant vapers also smoked (dual use), with 12.4% in early pregnancy, 12.5% in late pregnancy, and 14.6% in the postpartum period.
* Exclusive vapers' habits remained stable throughout pregnancy and postpartum, but dual users' vaping habits varied, with around a third becoming exclusive smokers by the postpartum period.
* The most frequently reported reason to vape was to quit smoking.
* Women who completed all three surveys were more likely to be ex-smokers, have higher educational qualifications, and have planned pregnancies.
* Multiple imputation analysis showed similar smoking and vaping patterns to the main analysis, accounting for nonresponse bias.

Main Message:
The study reveals that vaping prevalence is relatively high during pregnancy and postpartum, with most vapers being dual users. While exclusive vapers' habits remained stable, dual users' habits varied, suggesting the need for targeted interventions to support smoking cessation during pregnancy. Additionally, understanding the reasons for vaping, such as quitting smoking, highlights the importance of promoting evidence-based cessation methods and addressing the potential risks associated with vaping during pregnancy.

Bowker K, Lewis S, Ussher M, et al. Smoking and vaping patterns during pregnancy and the postpartum: A longitudinal UK cohort survey. Addictive behaviors. 2021;123:107050. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107050