The pregnant smoker's experience of ante-natal care — results from a qualitative study

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Abstract
Objectives — 1) To obtain insight into pregnant smokers' experience of the information received from doctor and midwife at the ante-natal clinic. 2) To develop an understanding of pregnant women's own ideas of how health personnel can help them stop smoking. Design — Qualitative study with strategic sampling. 33 pregnant smokers took part in an in-depth interview in the third trimester. Setting — Home of patients, or surgeries in Hordaland county, Norway. Participants — Daily smokers during the last three months before conception, and still smoking in the 16th–18th week of pregnancy. Results — Pregnant women lacking motivation to stop smoking seemed to be most satisfied with ante-natal care. The women interviewed saw doctors and midwives as responsible for raising the subject of smoking, and blamed them for disinterest. The findings suggest that pregnant smokers may be classified into four categories (“it could have been worse”, “self-delusion”, “self-confident”, and “rational”), and that intervention should be tailored to meet each woman's perception of control over smoking behaviour.