Health and Society: Smoking in pregnancy

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Recommended: Explain different definitions of health

This assignment will begin by giving a brief definition of health whilst presenting a discussion on the exploration of an individual in relation to making healthy choices. The purpose of this assignment is to look at the effects of making healthy choices and the implications that may occur. In addition, current social policies that relate to health and society, and the effects of smoking in pregnancy will also be discussed.

‘Health is a state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’ (World Health Organisation, 2011) This definition was first cited by the International health conference in July 1946, and the definition has remained the same. Health is a way of life which is reflected upon every individual, factors such as the condition of your body, has an impact on your health overall. Additionally, if an individual being is fit and in good shape, they are more likely to make healthy choices. Presently, in society around 10 million adults in Britain smoke, (BBC News 2007).Take the example of cigarettes, much of the known effects of smoking include heart disease, lung cancer, heart attacks and much more. Yet adults around the world are constantly engaging in this habit which ultimately deteriorates the health of a being.

The number of women who have taken up smoking during pregnancy has significantly increased and is continuing to rise, despite the government targets for reducing it (BBC Health). Statistics reveal that one in three pregnant women are continuing to smoke, in spite of the current social policies and campaigns that are in force to help them quit. Campaigns including NHS smoke free, NHS stop smoking services and local stop smoking clinics drop in where women can...

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... health guidance 26: Quitting smoking in pregnancy and following child birth: Issue date June 2010 http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/13023/49345/49345.pdf page 6

Nice: Guidance aims to protect thousands of unborn babies and small children from tobacco harm: Updated 23 June 2010 http://www.nice.org.uk/newsroom/pressreleases/UnbornBabiesSmallChildrenTobaccoHarm.jsp [Date accessed 01/ 12/2011]

http://www.who.int/suggestions/faq/en/index.html [ Date accessed 8/12/2011]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-14104526 [Date accessed 8/12/2011]

Scolders, carers or friends: South African midwives’ contrasting styles of communication when discussing smoking cessation with pregnant women - Midwifery, Volume 27, Issue 4, August 2011, Pages 519-520 Katherine Everett-Murphy, Jeske Paijmans, Krisela Steyn, Catherine Matthews, Maria Emmelin, Zaino Peterson

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