Motivations, Challenges and Coping Strategies for Smoking Cessation： Based on Multi-ethnic Pregnant Couples in Far Western China

• Published in: Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Medical sciences Vol. 37; no. 3; pp. 439 - 445
• Main Authors: Bai, Xue, Chen, Jiang-yun, Fang, Zi, Zhang, Xiao-yan, Wang, Fang, Pan, Zheng-qiong, Fang, Peng-qian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wuhan Huazhong University of Science and Technology 01.06.2017; School of Health and Medicine Management, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030,China%Department of Financial Management, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology,Wuhan 430030, China%School of Policy and Public Administration, Hubei University, Wuhan 430000, China%Medical Department, Wuhan General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command, Wuhan 430000, China
• Subjects: Adult; China; clarify; Ethnic Groups; Female; guidance; helping; Humans; husband; Islam; Male; married; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Motivation; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications - prevention & control; pregnant; Qualitative Research; smoking; Smoking - ethnology; Smoking - physiopathology; Smoking - psychology; Smoking Cessation - ethnology; Smoking Cessation - psychology; Social Support; Spouses - ethnology; Spouses - psychology; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome - physiopathology; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome - psychology; tobacco; withdrawal; motivations; pregnant couple; coping strategies; smoking cessation; challenges
• ISSN: 1672-0733; 1993-1352; 1993-1352
• DOI: 10.1007/s11596-017-1754-4

The present study aimed to clarify the smoking cessation motivations, challenges and coping strategies among pregnant couples. A qualitative design using a grounded theory approach was applied. Data were collected by individual semi-structured interviews with 39 married individuals（21 non-smoking pregnant women and 18 smoking or ever-smoking men with a pregnant wife） and 3 imams in an ethnically diverse region of far western China. The most common theme for smoking cessation motivation was “embryo quality”（i.e., a healthier baby）, followed by family＇s health. Most interviewees reported that husband＇s withdrawal symptoms were the greatest challenge to smoking cessation, followed by the Chinese tobacco culture. Coping strategies given by the pregnant women typically involved combining emotional, behavioral and social interventions. Social interventions showed advantages in helping to quit smoking. Pregnancy appears to be a positive stimulus for pregnant couples＇ smoking cessation. Our results suggest that pregnancy, a highly important life event, may help to reduce barriers to smoking cessation at the social level（e.g., limiting access to cigarettes, avoiding temptation to smoke）, but does little to help with the withdrawal symptoms. Professional guidance for smoking cessation is still necessary.