Active and passive smoking during pregnancy

Abstract

Introduction: Smoking during pregnancy is the most considerable risk factor leading to a variety of unfavorable pregnancy outcomes.

Aim: To study the smoking status of pregnant women.

- To assess their knowledge and attitude towards smoking cessation.

Methods: We conducted a survey (May 2016- January 2018) in two public Maternity hospitals in Athens, Greece.

Results: 50,4% were smokers at the beginning of their pregnancy despite 56,3% of them having planned their pregnancy meaning that they had not even tried to quit smoking during the family planning phase.

- 19% continued to smoke during pregnancy.

- 73% considered quitting and 77,7% of them did in fact tried to quit, however 57,9% of them actually failed.

- Only 3,5% had reached out to a health professional specially trained in smoking cessation in order to receive help, despite 79,3% of them declaring having been knowledgeable of the existence of smoking cessation clinics inside public hospitals.

- 19,4% wanted to visit such clinics.

- 92% believe that smoking during pregnancy is harmful for them and for their babies.

- 50,3% avoid visiting places where they were exposed to second hand smoke.

- 79% have not been actively supported in their attempt to quit smoking, by their partner and family.

- Finally, 83,3% want to breast feed, regardless of whether they smoked or not.

Conclusion: A significant percentage of pregnant smokers continue to smoke throughout their pregnancy as a result of not having been informed or helped adequately in order to quit. Smoking cessation clinics should be created inside maternity hospitals in Greece and should be manned with specially trained health professionals. Midwives and gynecologists, should actively inform and refer pregnant smokers to these clinics.