The pregnant smoker: a preliminary investigation of the social and psychological influences

Background Smoking during pregnancy is an important challenge to public health. An understanding of the psychological and sociological bases of maternal smoking is essential tothe development of effective smoking cessation interventions. The aim of this study was to explore the psychosocial factors...

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Published in:Journal of public health (Oxford, England) Vol. 19; no. 2; pp. 187 - 192
Main Authors: Haslam, C., Draper, E. S., Goyder, E.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 01-06-1997
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Summary:Background Smoking during pregnancy is an important challenge to public health. An understanding of the psychological and sociological bases of maternal smoking is essential tothe development of effective smoking cessation interventions. The aim of this study was to explore the psychosocial factors that underpin maternal smoking. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 200 antenatal attenders atLeicester Royal Infirmary, NHS Trust, UK. Results Twenty-nine per cent were smokers, 22 per cent ex-smokers and 49 per centwere never smokers. Around half of the ex-smokers (49 per cent) had reportedly given up smokingduring their current pregnancy. Around a third (29.5 per cent) of the ex-smokers had experienced previous problems associated with maternal smoking, including spontaneous abortion, cot death and premature birth. Of the current smokers, 69 per cent claimed that they would like to give up smoking; indeed, 59 per cent had tried to stop smoking. Emotional factors were important in maintaining smoking for two-thirds of the smokers. Significantly more of the smokers (75 per cent) had partners who smoked compared with the never-smoking women(30 per cent; ρ < 0.001). There was no difference in the level of knowledge about the dangers of maternal smoking between smokers, ex-smokers and never smokers. Conclusions Pregnant smokers are as aware of the health risks as non-smokers. Effective intervention strategies need to focus not only on the pregnant woman's smoking status but also offer help to partners, close family members and friends. Interventions need to address the social and psychological factors that maintain maternal smoking.
Bibliography:ark:/67375/HXZ-SQ6FZTWJ-6
Address correspondence to Dr C. Haslam
istex:D282D98314DDC6E32CA18933E7039525927F5D36
ArticleID:19.2.187
ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 23
ISSN:1741-3842
0957-4832
1741-3850
1464-3782
DOI:10.1093/oxfordjournals.pubmed.a024607