Parents’ smoking during pregnancy and after the birth of their child is a serious public health problem. And, once they are born, children with at least one parent who smokes are still exposed to smoke and become victims of passive smoking.
In order to tackle this situation, good information as well as the mutual support of the couple is more necessary than ever. Following this two-fold observation, new initiatives are being introduced in Europe.
In Belgium, for example, there is a brand new federal campaign aimed at helping parents to live without smoking in order to protect their health and that of their children. For its part, the European Commission’s campaign entitled “HELP – For a life without tobacco” is passing on good practices of the member states. At the same time, HELP is playing its part in helping parents to stop smoking by increasing the number of sources of information and promoting national services and numbers to help smokers (2326-6116).
Giving up smoking while pregnant and after the birth of a child is, above all, a struggle to be tackled together. Although it is a well-known fact that smoking during pregnancy increases the risks to the health of baby and mother, it is, perhaps, less well known that it is more difficult for a mother to stop smoking or to stay free of smoking when the people around her smoke.
The mother’s partner has the biggest influence on her behaviour when it comes to smoking. Studies show more relapses, mainly after the birth of the child, among mothers whose partner smokes.
On the other hand, a study carried out in 2005 shows that the increase in the level of knowledge among fathers about the harmful effects of passive smoking on children is associated with a higher number of fathers wishing to stop smoking. Therefore, quitting is very much a matter of information as well as a matter for both parents.
To help parents who smoke to kick the habit, original solutions are being put in place across Europe. As parents often stop smoking together and influence each other, it is important to provide specific help to both partners during pregnancy and after the birth.
Some European Union countries are reacting in the light of this observation. In Belgium, where it is estimated that around 30 per cent of pregnant women continue to smoke during pregnancy, a federal plan to combat smoking was launched in January this year. This plan is original because, under certain circumstances, it provides help with weaning both partners off smoking.
This help consists of a series of eight consultations with an approved tobaccologist. Both parents can be reimbursed for these sessions, which, ideally, are recommended by the gynaecologist or other health professional.
This lump sum assistance contributes to the costs of the eight sessions with the tobaccologist for the expectant mother and her partner (e120 each) and to the costs of medicinal treatment for the partner (e55).
To live a happy life without tobacco, for yourself and those you love, don’t wait, phone 2326-6116. Professionals are there to answer your questions and help you to find a solution to quitting that suits you.
Also visit the “HELP – For a life without tobacco” campaign site: http://www.help-eu.com
The “HELP – For a life without tobacco” campaign of the European Commission aims at convincing people not to start or to quit smoking with a TV-campaign in the 25 member states and different promotional activities.
As part of the new anti-smoking campaign launched by the European Commission, information articles are being published on a regular basis with relevant information about health with a view to supporting, extending and stepping up the initiatives of the HELP campaign.
This article was submitted by HELP – a European Commission agency