Warn future parents early of smoking risk to infants, children

Alcohol-Drug Education Service was one of nine participants this month in a focus group convened to brainstorm ways to help new fathers (or fathers-to-be) quit smoking.

It has long been known that nicotine poses a serious threat to unborn children, so pregnant women who smoke have been an ongoing target for public-health officials. Now, an effort by Vancouver Coastal Health and the UBC School of Nursing is hoping to persuade the partners of new mothers that they should “kick the habit” as well.

According to FACET (Families Controlling and Eliminating Tobacco) program coordinators Robin Anderson and Gayle Sarbit, a pregnancy provides an opportune time to amplify the no-smoking message. The pending arrival of a new son or daughter should give both Mom and Dad added motivation to tackle their own nicotine addictions.

Focus-group participants spent an afternoon May 6 sharing ideas and personal experiences, but in the end came to realize that prompting men to stop smoking may pose a challenge even greater than the apparent chance to take advantage of a life-changing moment (the arrival of a child).

From earlier sessions with new fathers who smoked, FACET learned that they have plenty of excuses to avoid what’s good for them. They put it off “until the baby becomes aware”; they found places to light up outside of the home; and, incredibly, some said fatherhood actually gave them more reason to smoke, due to stresses involved with parenting.

Parents with a new child at home or on the way have multiple reasons to stop: for their own health, in support of their spouse, for the health of the baby, and to set a positive role model for a growing child.

Unfortunately, an appeal to “be there when the kid is playing soccer” might not be as logical as it seems: Of 24 surveyed in two FACET men’s sessions (Vancouver and Kelona combined), only three were married to the mother of their child/child-to-be. That raised the question of how likely they were to be together in eight or 10 years when Junior is kicking a ball around.

Another difficulty is that a pregnancy does not pull fathers into contact with the healthcare system as it does for mothers. Typically a young, future father shows up with his partner to view the ultrasound, then disappears until it’s time for a birthing class. But those sessions, like pre-natal care for the mother, are already too brief and too crammed with material to spend much (if any) time on smoking.

Someone in the focus group suggested that young men should be hit with a potent, no-smoking message BEFORE a pregnancy ­occurs – even early in school. “Now we’re talking about prevention,” said Jay Niver, A-DES communication director. “With all the other sound reasons to avoid tobacco, kids need to know that – no matter how far off it seems – there could come a time when a young life you bring into the world will be harmed because you’re smoking.”

The FACET project is “translating knowledge into tailored interventions for women and men to address tobacco use” during pregnancy and postpartum periods, according to Anderson. She and Sarbit explained that Families Controlling and Eliminating Tobacco aims to create “gender-sensitive tobacco reduction interventions” that are based on everyday life experiences.

For more information on FACET, go to: www.facet.ubc.ca