Pregnant smokers are receptive to smoking cessation advice and use of nicotine replacement therapy

Pregnant women who identified themselves as smokers were surveyed to ascertain their attitudes towards and likelihood of using nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) if it were to be provided free of charge at antenatal clinics. Smokers were asked to participate in a brief anonymous survey to identify current levels of smoking, nicotine dependence, attitudes towards cessation, use of cessation aids and whether they would use free NRT if it were provided with support at antenatal clinics. The majority of women were supportive of NRT being offered to pregnant smokers (87%), and 64% reported they would be very likely to use NRT if it were offered free from the antenatal clinic. These results provide strong support for a comprehensive cessation strategy implemented in antenatal clinics.