Maternal smoking during pregnancy is hazardous to the developing fetus and mother. Smokers should be identified and offered personalized advice and assistance, including self-help materials tailored for pregnancy. Results of a meta-analysis of 16 randomized trials with validated outcomes indicate that such intervention increases cessation by 70% in diverse populations of pregnant women. At this time, intensive counseling on multiple occasions does not appear to increase cessation.
Center for Health Promotion Research and Development, School of Public Health, University of Texas, Houston Health Science Center, Houston, Texas 77225, USA.
