| Summary |
The purpose of this descriptive correlational study was to determine the characteristics of a group of military-related women who smoked during pregnancy. Information related to health beliefs, sociodemographic characteristics, and preferred methods of smoking cessation interventions was investigated. The research was done as a pilot study in order to determine the prevalence and characteristics of prenatal smokers within the setting and the need for further study. All subjects completed three questionnaires. A Health Belief questionnaire collected information about perceived control of health, and perceived seriousness, susceptibility, and benefits and barriers to maternal and fetal health in terms of smoking behavior. The remaining instruments gathered sociodemographic information and provided participants with the opportunity to evaluate perceived helpfulness of smoking cessation interventions. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sample. Pearson correlations and independent t-tests were used to examine the relationships between Health Belief scores and selected variables. Smoking prevalence in the study sample was much lower than that reported in the civilian prenatal population. A significant correlation, (r = -.54, p = .02), was found to exist between the total Health Belief score and subject age. Independent t-test analysis did not reveal significant differences between mean Health Belief scores and subgroups as defined by education, amount smoked, or history of pregnancy complications. Results of the study indicate that further research is necessary to validate smoking prevalence rates with military-related prenatal smokers. Sociodemographic characteristics of the sample provided implications important to planning smoking cessation programs. Expansion of the research to include study of other concepts within the theoretical framework is indicated. |
