[Interventions to prevent health risks due to tobacco smoke in pregnant women, postpartum women and their infants]. / Interventionen zur Prävention gesundheitlicher Risiken durch Tabakrauch für Schwangere, Frauen post partum und deren Kinder.

The aim of this study was to develop recommendations for interventions aiming at reducing health risks due to tobacco smoking in pregnant women, women postpartum and their infants. Meta-Analyses and selected studies are summed up. Epidemiological findings and health risks due to smoking are summed up. Subsequently findings from intervention studies are cross-referenced and integrated as recommendations. Interventions may be divided into three categories: 1. interventions to obtain abstinence in pregnancy, 2. interventions for relapse prevention after abstinence has been attained in pregnancy, 3. interventions aimed at reducing exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in homes with children. Empirical evidence is cross-referenced to the following points: 1. Self-help materials, 2. brief counselling, 3. more time-consuming counselling, 4. interventions to reduce exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and 5. interventions by midwives. Results from meta-analyses as well as results from selected studies suggest the following recommendations: 1. use of a trusting relationship in counselling, 2. repeated counselling, 3. complementary use of self-help materials; self-help material alone is not effective enough, 4. use of state-of-the-art counselling approaches and, 5. theoretical foundation and appropriate individualized counselling.

[The readiness of women, after they have given birth to children, to participate in individualized counselling for smoking cessation ]. / Bereitschaft von Frauen, nach der Geburt ihres Kindes an einer individuellen Beratung zum Rauchen teilzunehmen.

OBJECTIVES: Smoking after pregnancy implies health risks for both the woman and the newborn. Smoking cessation interventions postpartum can prevent relapse in women who quit during pregnancy, protect the infant from environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), and motivate smokers to quit. The readiness of women postpartum to participate in smoking cessation counselling is described. METHODS: In 6 maternity wards n = 2790 women were screened for smoking, n = 1128 smoked before pregnancy. Of these n = 869 gave informed consent. Information on sociodemographic status and smoking behaviour is available for n = 642 participating women and for n = 217 non-participating women. RESULTS: No differences between women participating and non-participating were found in age (p >.05) and having a partner (p >.05). Participants were slightly higher educated (p <.001) and were mainly in maintenance (44 %) or in precontemplation stage of change (38 %). The proportions were 44 % and 22 % in the group of the non-participating women. CONCLUSIONS: The readiness of women postpartum to participate in smoking cessation counselling was high. By reaching abstinent women and women not motivated to quit, a target group was addressed that barely benefits from currently existing preventive activities. Maternity wards are an effective location for addressing smoking behaviour of mothers.