Cutting smoking rates in pregnancy
Source: Tasmania. Minister for Health and Human Services. Media Release
"The Minister for Health and Human Services, Lara Giddings, today launched a hospital based initiative designed to help tackle high rates of smoking among pregnant women in Tasmania. The Smoke Free Pregnancy Project will provide training to midwives at the Royal Hobart and Launceston General Hospitals on smoking cessation for pregnant smokers during routine antenatal consultations. Pregnant women will also be offered information about the dangers of smoking as well as referral to the Quitline for ongoing counselling and support. Alarmingly, close to 30% of pregnant women in Tasmania smoke during their pregnancy,” Ms Giddings said. I am very concerned that many pregnant women still aren’t heeding the message that smoking is bad for their baby’s health and bad for them."