摘要：We examined smoking and smoking cessation among 538 young inner-city women who had been followed from early adolescence to young adulthood. Results showed that 14.3% of these young women had smoked in middle school, 26.4% had smoked in high school, and 21.9% had smoked at age 19 or 20 years, when many were rearing children, pregnant, or considering pregnancy. Young women who were raising children were more likely than those who were not to currently smoke or to have smoked in the past. Partner violence victimization was an independent risk factor for continued smoking. If improvements in smoking cessation rates are to be achieved, public health efforts must address factors underlying early and continued smoking. Smoking during pregnancy and child rearing is a well-documented risk for mothers as well as their children. Studies have shown that young African American and Hispanic women are less likely to smoke than their White counterparts, but they are more likely to become mothers at early ages and to live in economically distressed neighborhoods. 1 , 2 The combined risks associated with early childbearing and smoking (e.g., low birth-weights) contribute to disparities in maternal and child health between African Americans and Hispanics and other groups. 3 Furthermore, increased rates of asthma and other disorders exacerbated by environmental tobacco smoke have been observed among children raised in inner cities. 4 We examined relationships between reproductive and child-rearing status and smoking and smoking cessation among urban young women who took part in the Reach for Health longitudinal study. 5 , 6 Also, because young mothers are at elevated risk of intimate partner violence victimization, 7 – 9 we assessed whether victimization—which has been shown to have negative effects in terms of numerous other health problems 10 – 12 —is a risk factor for smoking and is a deterrent to cessation.
