[Adjusted tobacco legislation and accompanying actions for the benefit of future children of women smokers]

Abstract

Pregnant women are a population group of special interest as far as smoking is concerned. It is not only their own health but also that of their unborn children that is implicated. Consequently, achieving short-term abstention is relevant as well as long-term cessation. A paper published elsewhere in this issue provides empirical evidence on the smoking status of pregnant women and illustrates that currently one quarter of them smoke. For approximately 25% of pregnant women, their pregnancy is reason to stop smoking and for the majority this then results in lasting abstention. However, 11% of pregnant smokers keep on smoking throughout their pregnancy. These figures compare favourably with the 28% of pregnant women smokers in the Dutch population, but should nevertheless be reason for concern for the health of mother and child. One of the reasons for the high levels of smokers amongst pregnant women in the Dutch population could well be the waning political support for public health actions following tobacco legislation that came into effect in 2004. The effectiveness of smoking cessation can be enhanced by a combination of individual and public actions. For example, partners of smoking pregnant women should also be involved in quitting interventions. Moreover, the current and anxiously awaited proposal by the Minister of Health to impose a ban on smoking in the public domain of bars and restaurants will offer an ideal opportunity for promoting non-smoking on the part ofindividuals. Such a development will result in considerable health benefits for the unborn children of smoking, pregnant women.