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Smoking in pregnancy: a follow-up study of women unwilling to quit

A Valbø1, P Schioldborg

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Buskerud Central Hospital, Norway.

During a smoking intervention trial at Buskerud Central Hospital in Norway in 1988-1989, 79 out of 279 smoking pregnant women refused any form of intervention. Thirty-five of the women (44%) expressed a negative attitude to quit smoking and insisted on continuing their smoking habits. Forty-four (56%) indicated a positive interest in quitting, but refused advice and assistance from the health service. The smoking pattern of the 79 women was followed during 12 months. In spite of their stated unwillingness to change their smoking habits, or their refusal of advice, no difference was observed in their quitting or reduction rate during pregnancy compared to a control group of women with a positive interest in quitting. In addition, significantly more women in the latter group actually increased their smoking. The quitting rate of the negatively motivated women also proved similar to that obtained in a stop-smoking intervention used among positively motivated women who also had received additional information. Hence, the negatively motivated do not appear to represent a graver risk group than other pregnant women.

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