What can be done to prevent smoking in pregnancy? a literature review

Abstract

Smoking in pregnancy is a serious health risk to mother and baby that is associated with premature birth, low birth weight and respiratory disorders. Recently it has become apparent that smoking in pregnancy can have long-term consequences for the child, including learning difficulties, elevated risk of diabetes, obesity and asthma. Over the past 30 years there has been a considerable volume of research activity searching for effective smoking cessation interventions that are suitable for pregnant women. This paper will review recent research literature to identify effective smoking cessation interventions and make recommendations for further research.

Smoking cessation intervention with pregnant women and new parents (part 2): A focus group study of health visitors and midwives working in the UK

“…Participant responses were recorded via an audiotape, and records were made of any important group observations. The questions were developed from an earlier literature review of smoking in pregnancy by the author (Bull, 2003). The author used qualitative content analysis (Graneheim and Lundman, 2004) to interpret the transcribed verbatim and to extract emergent themes and codes.…”

“…Indeed, Kelley et al (2001) have demonstrated that cognitive-based interventions with pregnant smokers are moderately effective at promoting cessation when they take the 'stages of change' behavioural model into consideration. It is not necessarily the most intensive types of intervention that provide the most cost-effective solutions to this challenging health problem (Bull, 2003). Lumley et al (2006) were able to demonstrate that even brief cessation interventions delivered by maternity staff reduce smoking activity, premature birth and low birth weight in their systematic review.…”