Characteristics of tobacco withdrawal in pregnant women.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the management of tobacco withdrawal in pregnant women. STUDY DESIGN: The questionnaire-based, descriptive survey included 979 post-partum women. The variables analysed included the characteristics of the mother and neonate at delivery, her smoking habits, her level of exposure to passive smoking, and the barriers to giving up smoking. The chi square test was used to analyse qualitative variables and the Students t-test for quantitative variables. RESULTS: 76% of women who smoked at the start of pregnancy said that they had been asked about their tobacco consumption. However, only 16% had been asked by a clinician or midwife about their attempts to stop smoking. Seven percent were offered a specialised consultation, but only one-third attended. Seventy-six percent of women who failed to stop smoking during pregnancy had a partner who smoked compared with 63% of women who gave up. Dependency and stress during pregnancy also were lower for women who stopped smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare professionals seems to offer only rudimentary care. Simple strategies to help women give up smoking are required. The partner is an important target, especially if he can be persuaded to give up at the same time.

Description of tobacco addiction in pregnant women.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the characteristics of a group of pregnant women who smoked until delivery with women who gave up smoking during pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: Questionnaire-based, descriptive study of 979 pregnant women in four regions of France. The variables analysed included the characteristics of the mother and neonate at delivery, the smoking habits of the mother before and during pregnancy, the perception of risk linked to smoking, and the reasons for giving up smoking. RESULTS: Eighteen percent of women smoked until delivery. Fifty-five percent of women gave up smoking during pregnancy, usually in the first trimester. Women who failed to give up smoking were more disadvantaged psychosocially and were more likely to live alone. There was a higher level of dependency among women who failed to give up smoking and a lower perception of risk to the foetus. Among the women who had tried to reduce their tobacco consumption without success, 6% stated that they had been motivated by medical information compared to 28% of women who succeeded in stopping smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the risks associated with smoking the number of pregnant women who smoke until delivery remains high. Knowledge of the psychosocial profile and degree of dependency of these patients is an important step to managing this problem.