The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #62048

Merle J. Weitz, MSW and Judy Donlen, RN, DNSc, JD. Mom's Quit Connection, Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative, 2500 McClellan Avenue, Suite 250, Pennsauken, NJ 08109-4613, 856 665-6000 ext 222, mweitz@snjpc.org

The Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative’s Mom Quit Connection (MQC) program uses the consortia model and community network of maternal and child health systems to deliver smoking cessation services to pregnant women and new mothers. Provider education emphasizes the need to continually assess smoking status and refer to treatment. Convenient and individualized cessation counseling and case management is offered in local prenatal and community settings. Collaborative community education and outreach activities focus on the dangers of maternal smoking, and the relationship of smoking to childhood disease. The program was initially funded in 2001 through the NJ Department of Health and Senior Services and the Comprehensive Tobacco Control Program as a demonstration project in Southern NJ. In year two, through statewide subcontracts, the program elements were replicated in three additional consortia through the state.

The first stage of implementing Mom’s Quit Connection emphasized the obstetrical provider’s critical role in identifying pregnant smokers and referring to cessation support services. The presentation will review strategies found to successfully engage provider support. Barriers found to impact a pregnant women’s success in quitting smoking will be discussed, including the role of stress and the impact of other smokers in the home. Since 70% of pregnant women who quit during pregnancy return to smoking by the baby’s first year, innovative relapse prevention approaches will be presented. These strategies include emphasizing the continued risk of environmental tobacco smoke to young children after delivery, and using pediatric health and day care providers to improve access to cessation treatment services.

Learning Objectives:

• 1.List three concerns that obstetrical providers consider barriers to addressing smoking cessation with their patients.
• 2.Describe four program strategies used by MQC staff to generate provider referrals to their smoking cesstion program.
• 3.Identify two factors that put new mothers who have quit smoking during pregnancy at risk to resume smoking after delivery.

Keywords: Prenatal Interventions, Smoking Cessation

Related Web page: momsquitsmoking.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: program funding from the NJ Dept of Health and Senior Services and the Comprehensive Tobacco Control Program