Number of Women Smoking During Pregnancy in North East Lincolnshire Hits Record Low
Support, Incentives, and Community Outreach Help Drive Down Smoking Rates Among Mums-to-Be
The number of women smoking during pregnancy in North East Lincolnshire has reached its lowest ever level, according to new NHS England figures.
Just over 7% of women were recorded as smokers at the time of delivery in the past year, down from 11% the year before—a significant fall, though rates still remain higher than the national average.
Geoffrey Barnes, deputy director for Public Health at North East Lincolnshire Council, says a range of new approaches has helped more women to quit:
“We’re offering various options to help them stop smoking, referrals into my service within the council that helps people to stop smoking as well, and an innovative range of choices to help people stop smoking.”
“One of the things we’ve introduced recently is an incentive scheme whereby people committing to stop smoking and willing to take a carbon monoxide test will get paid, essentially, to stop smoking,” he explains.
Smoking during pregnancy is linked to serious health risks, including low birth weight, which Geoffrey says “can leave babies more vulnerable to infections, can have more vulnerability throughout life as well.”
He adds that the council is focusing on meeting mums where they are:
“Reaching mothers in places that they're likely to go to in social groups and really to try and ensure that people do fully understand the harm that smoking during pregnancy and smoking during all stages of life can do.”
The council’s services and new incentive schemes, along with education about the risks, are helping to create healthier futures for families in North East Lincolnshire.