New Report on Maternal Smoking Among Women Reporting Depression or Anxiety

In a new report in Obstetrics and Gynecology, CDC authors used data from the 2009–2011Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System to describe smoking before and during pregnancy among women reporting depression or anxiety.

Main findings:

Almost 17% of women giving birth reported having depression, anxiety, or both during the 3 months before pregnancy.
Compared with those who did not report either condition, a higher percentage of women who reported depression or anxiety also smoked before pregnancy (47% compared with 23%) and during pregnancy (28% compared with 11%).
A lower percentage of women who smoked before pregnancy and reported depression or anxiety quit smoking by the last 3 months of pregnancy than those who did not report either condition (41% compared with 54%).

This report shows that smoking before and during pregnancy is higher among women who are depressed or anxious. Given recommendations to screen for depression and anxiety during pregnancy or after birth and to screen for smoking, providers have the opportunity to identify and treat women with tobacco cessation interventions and mental health care.

Link to abstract

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Learn more about Tobacco Use and Pregnancy and Depression among Women from CDC’sDivision of Reproductive Health