Knowledge of the adverse effects of smoking and related changes in smoking status during pregnancy among female smokers: A survey in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Smoking during pregnancy causes various health problems in pregnant women and their newborns. We aimed to clarify the association between smoking behavior during pregnancy and knowledge about health risks associated with active and passive smoking during pregnancy among women smokers prior to pregnancy. We conducted a questionnaire survey among women in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia between October and December 2018. Of the 220 women who received the questionnaire, 200 (90.9%) responded; however, due to incomplete data, 49 participants were excluded. Among the 151 participants included in the study, 80 (53.0%) actively smoked during and 71 (47.0%) quit smoking directly before pregnancy. A significant difference in the knowledge of the health risks associated with active smoking between both groups was found (P < 0.001). The likelihood of smoking cessation during pregnancy was higher in women who were more knowledgeable about the health risks of active smoking than in those who were less knowledgeable (odds ratio, 3.824; 95% confidence interval: 1.594–9.171). The prevalence of smoking during pregnancy was associated with a lack of knowledge of the health risks of active smoking. Therefore, measures should be taken to ensure that women are adequately advised about the maternal and fetal health risks associated with smoking during pregnancy and subsequently promote the well-being of both the mother and infant.