Quitting smoking is perceived to have an effect on somatic health among pregnant and non-pregnant women

Abstract

Objective: To examine the association of pregnancy and intent to quit smoking with perception of the somatic health risk of smoking and the effect on risk of quitting smoking.

Methods: Pregnant and non-pregnant women, intending and not intending to quit smoking, (n = 80) over a two-week period rated the probability for smoking-related health consequences to occur, given both conditions of not quitting smoking and of quitting smoking.

Results: Groups were the determining variable accounting for differences in risk perception. For pregnant women who did not intend to quit smoking, the estimated probability for the consequences to occur was generally low given the condition of continuing to smoke. There was no effect for time. The estimated effect of quitting smoking was statistically significant.

Conclusions: Future campaigns need to integrate risk information so that it can be grounded cognitively in order to increase the personal responsibility that women take for their own health and the health of the fetus.