Smoking in pregnancy in Nottingham - 11 years on

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess whether the smoking habits of women during pregnancy had changed since the baseline survey conducted in 1986 in Nottingham (Madeley et al, 1989). The study design involved a quantitative survey of all pregnant women attending the two hospital antenatal clinics in Nottingham over a six week period in 1997. A total of 1716 self-completion questionnaires were returned, representing a response rate of 80%. It was found that although the percentage of women smoking in pregnancy had fallen from 31% in 1986 to 24% in 1997, there were still similar factors associated with prevalence of smoking in pregnancy. For example, the largest proportion of smokers by age group was in the 14–20 age range but this had increased from 47% in 1986 to 56% in 1997. The study concluded that although there had been an increase in the percentage of women receiving advice about smoking and pregnancy from midwives and nurses, there are some worsening trends in the prevalence of smoking in pregnancy, particularly in the teenage population. It is therefore recommended that smoking intervention strategies are specifically targeted towards young, disadvantaged women and those with no live-in partner and those in their household.