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This paper examines a study of a brief contact smoking cessation program among 57 pregnant women at two urban clinics. All subjects were administered either a specially created videotape or a booklet on the topic of smoking. Subjects were then randomly assigned to receive either a nurse counseling message or to receive their usual care at the clinic. There was no statistically significant difference in smoking status among those who received either type of media or nurse counseling intervention. However, smoking cessation at one month after entry in the study was reported by 12% (N = 7) of subjects, by 18% (N = 10) of subjects in the ninth month of pregnancy, and by 9% (N = 5) of subjects at one month post-partum. Over half of the patients attempted to quit smoking in the first month and 68% (39/57) made at least one quit attempt during the entire study period. Our results suggest that future smoking cessation programs and methods need to consider more intensive nursing interventions and supportive measures to produce lasting changes in smoking prevalence.

Cigarette smoking is one of the most preventable causes of low birth weight in the United States. This paper presents new data on the relationship between low birth weight and maternal cigarette smoking in Wisconsin based on an analysis of 1991 birth certificates. In Wisconsin in 1991, 22.5% of mothers reported smoking cigarettes during pregnancy. Mothers who smoked cigarettes were twice as likely to bear low birth weight infants as were non-smokers. Low birth weight accounted for 49% of newborn hospital charges totaling $60.7 million. A 50% reduction in maternal smoking could potentially save $5 million in newborn hospital costs. A women is more likely to quit smoking during pregnancy. Physicians are in a unique position to encourage positive behavior change that will reduce the risk for low birth weight and have long term benefits for her and her family.