Skip to main content

Table 3 Perceived barriers and suggestions to improve cessation support for pregnant/postpartum women

From: Exploring the adequacy of smoking cessation support for pregnant and postpartum women

Theme

Barriers

Suggestions to address barriers

Policy

Absence of provincial cessation strategy

Comprehensive cessation strategy that involves cross-sector and cross-ministerial collaboration

Sustainable funding and organizational capacity issues

Funding for capacity building, program development and sustainability

Organizational cessation polices, practices and procedures

Hesitancy prescribing NRT to pregnant women

Medical directive for off-label use of NRT and education for providers

Program and service provision

Lack of comprehensive programming approach

Social determinants of health and harm reduction approaches

Programs accessible through multiple sectors

Address partner and family smoking

Engagement and accessibility issues

Engage women in program development/implementation

Incentives, transportation, childcare and snacks

Program promotion through local venues

Home visits

Address stigma and misconceptions through:

 • Training health care providers to understand issues faced by women and role of smoking in lives

 • Cessation training for providers who work with disadvantaged women

 • Positive messaging

 • Provincial media campaigns

Affordable NRT options

Inconsistent provider practice

Annual training in MCI and cessation best practices for pregnant/postpartum women

Perinatal cessation modules in educational curriculums/continuing education credits

  

Knowledge exchange channels to facilitate patient referral and promote inter-professional learning