Provision of E-Cigarettes for Smoking Cessation in Pregnancy: Perceptions and Experiences of Pregnant Women from Two UK Sites

Eleanor Lutman-White, Riya Patel, Lauren Bell, Deborah Lycett, Kelly Hayward, Ruth Sampson, Janani Arulrajah and Maxine Whelan ()
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Eleanor Lutman-White: Centre for Healthcare and Communities, Coventry University, Coventry CV1 5FB, UK
Riya Patel: Centre for Ethnic Health Research, NIHR Applied Research Collaboration-East Midlands (ARC-EM), University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
Lauren Bell: Centre for Healthcare and Communities, Coventry University, Coventry CV1 5FB, UK
Deborah Lycett: Centre for Healthcare and Communities, Coventry University, Coventry CV1 5FB, UK
Kelly Hayward: Warwickshire Public Health Team, Warwick CV34 4UL, UK
Ruth Sampson: Bath and North Somerset Public Health Team, Bristol BS31 1FS, UK
Janani Arulrajah: Bath and North Somerset Public Health Team, Bristol BS31 1FS, UK
Maxine Whelan: Centre for Healthcare and Communities, Coventry University, Coventry CV1 5FB, UK

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 4, 1-12

Abstract: Introduction: Smoking in pregnancy is associated with negative health outcomes for both mothers and babies; e-cigarettes, which contain nicotine without hazardous tobacco, may offer an additional smoking cessation strategy for pregnant women. Although e-cigarettes are being increasingly offered within services, there is limited understanding about whether e-cigarettes can improve smoking cessation support for pregnant individuals. This study aimed to explore service users’ experiences of using e-cigarettes as a tool for smoking cessation during pregnancy. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 women who had accepted one of two pilots and were analysed using inductive reflexive thematic analysis. The findings from each site were integrated to develop qualitative insight. Results: Participants largely had positive perceptions of the free and easy-to-use e-cigarette, preferring it to nicotine replacement therapies. The desire to have a healthy pregnancy and baby and the inclusion of non-judgemental behavioural support facilitated motivation to quit. Many participants reduced or quit tobacco use, with positive social and health implications reported. However, numerous barriers to quitting were present and intentions about long-term quitting of combustible cigarettes and e-cigarettes were mixed and uncertain. Conclusions: Providing e-cigarettes within smoking cessation services was indicated to be a positive and effective strategy for pregnant women trying to quit tobacco. However, numerous barriers to quitting and staying quit remained, suggesting scope for further improvements to smoking cessation support for pregnant women.

Keywords: smoking cessation; e-cigarettes; pregnancy; qualitative (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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