OBJECTIVE:

To examine patterns of cigarette and smokeless tobacco use before, during, and after pregnancy among Alaska Native (AN) and white women living in Alaska.

METHODS:

We used data from the 2000-2003 population-based Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System to describe patterns of self-reported prenatal tobacco use among AN and white women. We used multiple variable logistic regression analysis to identify maternal factors associated with quitting and relapse. The final sample included 5,458 women.

RESULTS:

During 2000-2003, the prevalence of any tobacco use before pregnancy was twofold higher among AN women than among white women (60.0 vs. 27.5%), and the prevalence of any tobacco use during pregnancy and after pregnancy were each nearly threefold higher. Of the 25.8% (SE 0.9) of white women who smoked before pregnancy, 49.0% (SE 2.1) reported that they quit during pregnancy and of those, 41.1% (SE 2.9) relapsed postpartum. Of the 38.5% (SE 0.9) of AN women who smoked before pregnancy, 35.7% (SE 1.4) quit, and of those 57.0% (SE 2.4) relapsed. Of the 14.2% of AN women who chewed tobacco before pregnancy, 15.7% (SE 1.7) quit, and of those, 52.9% (SE 5.9) relapsed.

CONCLUSION:

During 2000-2003, the prevalence of tobacco use was two to three times higher among AN women than among white women before, during, and after pregnancy. In addition, AN women had lower quit rates and higher relapse rates than white women. Comprehensive, culturally appropriate tobacco control approaches targeting AN women are needed to increase cessation during pregnancy and to decrease relapse.