A salutogenic perspective could be of practical relevance for the prevention of smoking amongst pregnant women.
OBJECTIVE
to use empirical data to assess the theoretical relevance of using a salutogenic, instead of a pathogenic, perspective to prevent smoking during pregnancy.


METHODS
quantitative study, a questionnaire was completed during the first trimester of pregnancy and an interview was conducted after the baby was born.


METHODS
a geographically defined area in the south-east of Sweden.


METHODS
all 395 women in the study area who were pregnant during the study period 1994-1995.


RESULTS
the women were categorised according to their smoking habits. A significant difference in the sense of coherence (SOC) score was shown between smoking and non-smoking women in indicators of bad health. Women who relapsed to smoking showed a lower level of SOC, particularly in the manageability component, than others. The SOC score was higher in the whole study group than in other comparable, non-pregnant populations.


CONCLUSIONS
a salutogenic perspective could be used in antenatal care as a basis for encouraging pregnant women to stop smoking. This could enhance the SOC by making smoking more understandable for the woman, by discussing smoking as a way of coping, and by encouraging the woman's own capacity and motivation to stop smoking. Starting a dialogue about smoking from the woman's point of view could do this, with the midwife and the woman exploring together the woman's thoughts about the smoking problem.
Abrahamsson
Agneta
A
Department of Health Sciences, Kristianstad University, S-291 88, Kristianstad, Sweden. agneta.abrahamsson@staff.hkr.se
Ejlertsson
Göran
G
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009042:Motivation; D011247:Pregnancy; D012649:Self Concept; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires