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Pregnant women will receive financial incentives and support to help them quit one of the most highly addictive habits, smoking cigarettes.

The new University of 亚洲色吧 trial will focus on expectant mothers in 亚洲色吧鈥檚 northern suburbs who are accessing antenatal care at the Lyell McEwin Hospital and Modbury Hospital.

Eligible participants who successfully stop smoking during the trial will receive up to $600 in gift vouchers throughout their pregnancy to see if the financial incentives encourage them to quit.

鈥淎 high proportion of women who receive antenatal care in 亚洲色吧鈥檚 northern suburbs continue to smoke cigarettes and we need to find new ways of helping women quit,鈥� said principal investigator Associate Professor Lisa Smithers from the University of 亚洲色吧鈥檚 Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences.

鈥淚nternationally, financial incentives have successfully helped pregnant women to stop smoking and we鈥檙e interested to see if the same strategy could work here in South Australia.鈥�

Smoking during pregnancy can lead to serious complications for both mothers and babies, including miscarriage and premature labour. Babies born are also twice as likely to have a low birth weight, putting them at higher risk of death, infections, breathing problems and other health issues later in life.
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鈥淚nternationally, financial incentives have successfully helped pregnant women to stop smoking and we鈥檙e interested to see if the same strategy could work here in South Australia.鈥�Associate Professor Lisa Smithers, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of 亚洲色吧.

Nicotine is highly addictive, making it hard for people to quit. Previous research has also shown that some factors can make it even more challenging to quit, including socioeconomic status, social circles and levels of tobacco dependence. The changes that happen to the body during pregnancy can also make it more difficult.

Participants in this trial will be required to breathe into a carbon monoxide monitor, which increases in response to smoking tobacco.

鈥淎ll of the pregnant women involved in the trial will be provided with information about support and quitting methods that can be used safely during pregnancy,鈥� said Associate Professor Smithers.

鈥淥nly those who successfully stop smoking will receive the gift vouchers and the amounts will vary depending on when they quit during their pregnancy.鈥�

Along with regular testing, the participants will be required to complete several short questionnaires about their smoking habits, previous attempts to quit and their financial wellbeing. They will also be asked questions relating to anxiety and depression.

Researchers intend to follow up with participants six months after their baby is born to check their smoking status and measure their baby鈥檚 height, weight, and head circumference.

Recruitment is continuing for the trial, which is expected to run for several years. Any women who are in their first half of pregnancy, who smoke and are having their baby at the Lyell McEwin Hospital can express their interest through this link: