Unborn babies take first breath of fresh air

May 31, 2010

A new Cancer Council Queensland health program will be the first of its kind in Queensland to focus on reducing smoking during pregnancy among Indigenous women.

The launch of the program coincides with World No Tobacco Day on Monday May 31.

Team Leader of Tobacco Programs at Cancer Council Queensland, Dawn Cameron, said the program would promote the health and well being of unborn babies and their mums.

“This program is unique, culturally relevant, and specific to the needs of Indigenous women.

“Our aim is to provide an evidence-based approach to help expectant mothers to quit smoking and stay smoke free during their pregnancy and beyond.

“Importantly, the program provides specialised skill-based training for health professionals, social workers, and community members, who can then take their learnings and apply them in their community.”

The program, Stop the Smokes for a Healthy Bub, will be trialled at two locations from October this year and will be expanded Queensland-wide from 2011.

“One of the great aspects of this innovative health program is that it will assist Indigenous women and their partners to quit smoking during and after pregnancy.

“Community involvement and self-determination will be key planks of the program’s approach, enabling communities to develop initiatives that provide the best possible support for future mums,” Ms Cameron said.

Indigenous women are three times more likely than non-Indigenous women to smoke during pregnancy, with 52 per cent of Indigenous mothers reporting that they smoked during pregnancy, compared to 16 per cent of non-Indigenous mothers.

“We know that smoking is a huge risk factor for adverse events in pregnancy, and is associated with SIDS, miscarriage, low birth weight, premature birth, poor lung development and function and pre-natal death,” Ms Cameron said.

The program takes place over three days and covers topics such as risks, one-on-one and partner support, program-specific workshop facilitation, strategies for creating smoke free environments, and avenues for ongoing contact and support.

Any health professionals, social workers or community members working with pregnant Indigenous women who would like to take part in this program are encouraged to contact Dawn Cameron at Cancer Council Queensland on dawncameron@cancerqld.org.au. Indigenous applicants are particularly encouraged to apply.

The Cancer Council Queensland program will be funded by the Australian Government’s Indigenous Tobacco Control Initiative, to reduce rates of smoking among Indigenous Australians.

ENDS

For more information, please visit the World Health Organization's website.