Smoking prevalence in Australia is now the fourth lowest in the world¹. However 17% of pregnant women smoke, and in Indigenous communities the rate is about 50%. Smoking during pregnancy doubles the risk of low birthweight and significantly increases the risk of perinatal mortality, SIDS, asthma and other adverse pregnancy outcomes. However there is clear evidence that quitting at any time during pregnancy will improve the health outcomes for both mother and baby.

Pregnancy is a significant motivational factor for women to stop smoking and up to one third usually do so. However, significant numbers relapse either during or after pregnancy. Health professionals are well placed to inform and influence pregnant smokers to quit, but many do not routinely deliver quit smoking interventions. Effective interventions should aim to increase the incidence both of smoke-free pregnancies and smoke-free families, thus reducing adverse health outcomes for mothers, babies and their families.

This program explores the health impact of smoking on pregnant women, their unborn child, and young children. It canvasses the range of effective smoking cessation interventions, including the use of Lifescript tools, and considers how and when such interventions are best delivered. Cessation strategies that are specifically designed for intervention with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are also discussed.

The program includes filmed case studies featuring the role of the Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service in long term research aimed at developing a culturally specific smoking intervention for pregnant Indigenous women; and the work being done by State and Territory agencies training health professionals in the National Smoke-Free Pregnancy Project.

After viewing this program participants will be able to:

• Identify the health implications and outcomes for smoking and pregnancy
• Promote the benefits of non smoking to women, their partners and family supporters
• Provide evidence-based non-judgemental advice to pregnant women on smoking cessation
• Confidently undertake intervention to assist women to stop smoking during and after pregnancy

- Chair: Dr Norman Swan, Presenter of the Health Report on ABC Radio National.
- Dr Kate Strasser, General Practitioner, Altona, Victoria and former advisor to Quit VIC
- Ms Sue Hendy, Clinical Midwifery Consultant, Nepean Hospital, NSW and Australian College of Midwives representative on the National Smoking and Pregnancy Advisory Group
- Assoc. Prof. Raoul Walsh, Researcher, Centre for Health Research and Psycho-oncology, University of Newcastle
Program consultant: Ms Viki Briggs, Manager, Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Tobacco Control, Melbourne
Click here for more details about the presenters.

This program is introduced by Senator the Hon Jan McLucas, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing.

60 minutes.

This program was first broadcast on the Foundation's satellite network on Tuesday 22 April 2008.

This program is accredited or endorsed for CPD/CPE by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, the Royal College of Nursing Australia and the Australian Physiotherapy Association. Click here to evaluate this program and earn professional development points.

Visit our resources page for more smoking and pregnancy resources.

Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing

- 708 Drinking for Two?
- 614 Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
- 607a Start Strong
- 509a Aboriginal Maternal and Infant Care

1. Only the United States, Sweden and Canada have lower rates of smoking. Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Statistics on Drug Use in Australia 2006, published 12 April 2007. AIHW cat. no. PHE 80. Available from http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/10393