KEY POINTS:
The "stop smoking" message to pregnant woman needs to pushed harder, according to a new survey.
The Auckland Tobacco Control Research Centre (ATCRC) survey by showed only 11 percent of midwives were advising pregnant women to abstain from smoking, instead recommending a reduction in smoking.
GPs proved to be better, with 71 percent encouraging women to stop smoking all together while pregnant.
Director of the ATCRC Marewa Glover said both midwives and doctors should be doing more to encourage women to give when they are expecting.
"GPs and midwives are in a pivotal position to offer smoking advice to pregnant women, when motivation to quit is at its highest," she said.
"However, the message that smoking abstinence is vital for the health of the developing child does not seem to be consistently delivered, particularly by midwives."
About 150 GPs and 200 midwives took part in the survey, which was funded by the Ministry of Health.
Although both groups provide cessation counselling, the research showed half were likely to recommend nicotine patches as a replacement therapy, rather than intermittent methods such as gum and inhalers, which are advised for pregnant women.
"More needs to be done to ensure that pregnant women are given the help they need to quit smoking, including promotion of nicotine replacement mechanisms, such as gum, inhalers and lozenges, as a means to quit," Dr Glover said.
- NZPA
