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Reaching High Needs Populations with Tobacco

CessationJanuary 29, 2009Kristie Thompson

Research and Policy Officer

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Development

• Began investigating ways to reach this population in Fall 2007

•Interviewed NC and national experts, including:• Women and Tobacco Coalition for Health (WATCH) • Smoke Free Families National Partnership• Project ASSIST Partners• The NC Perinatal Health Committee• The March of Dimes

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Lessons Learned• NC still has many counties with high-rates of smoking

during pregnancy (>19%)• Majority of women who quit smoking during pregnancy

start again by baby’s 1st birthday• High percentage of women who smoke during pregnancy

are low income and receive services through Medicaid• Evidence-based strategies & resources exist to help• Patients are 30% to 70% more likely to quit if a trained

health care provider counsels them to do so• Reaching and engaging providers is challenging• Many health departments challenged to provide 5As

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Goal and Plan• Project Goal

– To reduce tobacco exposure and use among low-income pregnant and postpartum women

• Program Plan– Partner with UNC Center for Maternal and Infant

Health to develop and implement replicable models to address prenatal and postpartum smoking

– Collaborate with WATCH

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HWTF Objective 1Ensure health departments are able to fully

screen and treat pregnant and postpartum women for tobacco use.

• Three-year pilot project based in four county health departments, targeting low-income pregnant and postpartum women

• Communication and products

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HWTF Objective 2Heighten awareness among all providers who

interface with pregnant and postpartum women.

• Statewide outreach and assistance for health care providers on the importance of helping pregnant and postpartum women stop smoking

• Communication and products