New research empowers Indigenous mum's to stop smoking during pregnancy

'When you happen to fall into pregnancy you might not be ready to make that quit attempt, so what we are finding is that women need more support to be able take that first step and to quit'

Pregnancy prohibited activities. Smoking and drinking. Source: iStockphoto - http://cdn.ahchealthenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Smoking-while-pregnant-ups-risk-of-asthma-for-kids.jpg

PHD Candidate in Aboriginal Health Michelle Bovill has launched a new research to help Indigenous Mothers to quit smoking during pregnancy and has been awarded the Indigenous Heart Foundation Scholarship. 

Michelle says "Current data tells us that one in two Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women smoke during pregnancy, which is a key target for the closing the gap campaign, and to date there hasn’t been found an effective strategy to address smoking in pregnancy to offer the women the most appropriate support.”

Michelle travels to three Aboriginal Medical Services in South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland and her research looked at what works for each community, opening up the conversation and educating women on the effects of harming their newborn while smoking. 

Michelle says “My research started by just yarning with women and finding out what is happening when our Mum’s are getting pregnant and what they’re doing in regards to smoking.”

"Doctors are still telling Aboriginal women to reduce smoking and that’s what they have been doing and some of our Mum’s they are smoking, but they might only be smoking two cigarettes a day and no one’s telling them that still harming their babies."

Source: https://www.alldaychemist.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Smoking-suring-pregnancy.jpg

With strong support from the communities Michelle says “Community love the no smoking stickers and signs because it’s very clear we’ve helped educate. We made video’s, video content so like our health brochures show women how to make their home smoke free, and what steps to take and people responded really well to that.”

"Doctors are still telling Aboriginal women to reduce smoking and that’s what they have been doing and some of our Mum’s they are smoking but they might only be smoking two cigarettes a day and no one’s telling them that still harming their babies."