September 17, 2013
More support needed for pregnant Maori women smokers
Smoking cessation groups in Northland are teaming up with the region’s health professionals and organisations to help woman give up smoking during pregnancy.
Tracy Cornell from the Northland District Health Board says about 40 percent of Maori women in Tai Tokerau smoke during pregnancy, which is a significant factor in the poor health profile of Northland's Maori children.
She told the Public Health Association conference that advertising and social media campaigns do not work for this particular group of smokers, and they need to be approached directly and offered intensive support to quit.
She says the new approach is to encourage professionals like GPs and midwives to address smoking with their Maori clients, and refer them to cessation support services.
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