Objectives: This study used 2000-2020 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System data to estimate trends in smoking before, during, and after pregnancy, as well as quitting smoking during pregnancy. Materials and Methods: Weighted prevalence and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by year for each smoking-related measure. Annual percent change (APC) and average annual percent change (AAPC) in prevalence were estimated using Joinpoint regression to characterize trends over time. Results: Between 2000 and 2020, significant decreases in the prevalence of smoking before (23.0% to 14.0%; AAPC = -2.3% [95% CI = -2.9% to -1.7%]), during (13.2% to 6.5%; AAPC = -3.4% [95% CI = -4.0% to -2.7%]), and after pregnancy (18.9% to 8.8%; AAPC = -3.6% [95% CI = -4.3% to -2.9%]) were observed. For each measure, the fastest declines occurred largely throughout the 2010s (before: APC = -5.5% [2012-2020]; during: APC = -5.1% [2009-2020]; and after: APC = -6.4% [2012-2020]). The proportion of people who quit smoking during pregnancy significantly increased from 43.2% in 2000 to 53.7% in 2020 (AAPC = 1.0%; 95% CI = 0.2%-1.9%); however, Joinpoint regression detected relatively no change in quitting during pregnancy between 2010 and 2020 (APC = 0.0%; 95% CI = -0.4% to 0.5%). Conclusions: The prevalence of smoking before, during, and after pregnancy has reduced dramatically in the United States between 2000 and 2020, with the fastest declines occurring throughout the second decade of the twenty-first century. However, prevention and cessation efforts are still needed since approximately half of people who smoked before pregnancy continue to smoke during pregnancy.
Keywords: PRAMS; cigarettes; pregnancy; smoking; tobacco.