[Smoking and pregnancy: survey among women enrolled in an independent worker insurance program]

In order to further improve its prevention program entitled "Maternity childhood follow-up", the Paris region health insurance program for independent workers carried out a survey among female participants. The survey was designed to assess women's smoking behavior and evaluate reception of information concerning smoking-related risks and support available to stop smoking. The women's suggestions were also collected.

A questionnaire was sent by the physicians in charge of the Ile de France region to the 3525 women who had reported a pregnancy.

1099 answers were received (31%) The mean age of responders was 34.3 4.7 years. Their educational level was high (76% had a university degree). Before pregnancy, 37% were smokers. At the first trimester of pregnancy, 17% were smokers, 15% at the second trimester and 14% at the third trimester. Two years after childbirth, 20.5% were smokers. The proportion of women who stopped smoking was higher for those with a low Fagerström score. 29% of women said they did not receive any information about the harmful consequences of smoking. To cease smoking during pregnancy, 70% are helped by family and friends, 20% by health professionals; 3.5% took nicotine substitutes.

This survey emphasises the need for improving information to pregnant women for alerting them to the dangers of smoking and for training the relevant health professionals.