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. 2010;15(1):47-59.
doi: 10.1080/13557850903398293.

Is pregnancy a teachable moment for smoking cessation among US Latino expectant fathers? A pilot study

Kathryn I Pollak  1 , Susan Denman, Kristina Coop Gordon, Pauline Lyna, Pilar Rocha, Rebecca N Brouwer, Laura Fish, Donald H Baucom
Affiliations

Is pregnancy a teachable moment for smoking cessation among US Latino expectant fathers? A pilot study

Kathryn I Pollak et al. Ethn Health. 2010.

Abstract

Objective: Pregnancy may be a time when US Latino expectant fathers consider quitting smoking. A 'teachable moment' is theorized to increase motivation to change a behavior through increased risk perceptions, emotional responses, and changes in self-image.

Design: We recruited 30 Spanish-speaking expectant fathers through their pregnant partners. We assessed expectant fathers' diet, exercise, and smoking and teachable moment constructs (risk perceptions, emotional responses, and self-image).We also tested correlations between teachable moment constructs and motivation to change behaviors.

Results: Latino expectant fathers had high-risk perceptions that their smoking harmed the pregnancy (M=4.4, SD=0.5 on five-point scale) and strong emotional responses about their smoking during pregnancy (M=3.9, SD=1.1). They also felt it was their role to make the pregnancy healthy (M=4.4, SD=0.8). They felt less strongly that their diet and exercise affected the pregnancy. The teachable moment constructs for smoking were strongly correlated with motivation to quit smoking; the same was not true for diet and exercise.

Conclusions: Latino expectant fathers seem aware that their smoking could harm the pregnancy but seem less concerned about the effect of their diet and exercise on the pregnancy. Pregnancy may be a time to help Latino expectant fathers quit smoking.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Teachable moment model for behavior change among expectant Latino fathers.
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