Project Details

CIHR

Project Title: A gender analysis of tobacco use in families during pregnancy, postpartum and early childhood

Principal Investigator: Bottorff, Joan

Co-Principal Investigators: Oliffe, John L

Co-Investigators: Greaves, Lorraine J; Johnson, Joy L; Poland, Blake D

Keywords: COUPLES; EARLY CHILDHOOD; GENDER ANALYSIS; PREGNANCY AND POSTPARTUM; QUALITATIVE METHODS; TOBACCO REDUCTION

Funding Agency: Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Program: Institutes of Gender and Health and of Population and Public Health-Multi-Inst.

Abstract: Approximately 20%-30% of pregnant women use tobacco. Although many women stop smoking for pregnancy, they are often unable to remain smoke free. Sustained smoking cessation has considerable positive health benefits for both women and their children. However, creating the conditions for successful tobacco cessation during pregnancy and supporting family efforts to limit their children's tobacco smoke exposure has proven to be a persistent and difficult problem. In this study, we will interview 25 couples to describe mothers' and fathers' tobacco reduction efforts as children transition from infancy to early childhood (1-2 yrs old). We will also interview 30 new fathers who smoke to learn more about their tobacco use during their partner's pregnancy and the postpartum period. In this project, we will try to understand the way that men's and women's roles influence tobacco use. The outcome of the proposed project will be an in-depth description of the tobacco use in women's and men's lives and the way this influences couples' tobacco reduction efforts and father's use of tobacco. This kind of information is key to a full understanding of why women's efforts to stop or reduce smoking are not sustained and to developing better ways to intervene with families to eliminate tobacco from their lives.

Primary Institute: Gender and Health

Primary Theme: Social/Cultural/Environmental/Population Health

Institution: University of British Columbia

Funding Period: 2005-2007

Total Grant Amount: $291,664