Expectant mothers offered vouchers as part of smoking cessation programme

Nurses are working on a programme to encourage young expectant mothers to give up smoking by offering them shopping vouchers. 

The new scheme in the south of England will see pregnant women aged under 20 years old receive £20 Love2shop vouchers for each month of their pregnancy in which they remain smoke-free. 

The vouchers can be used in a range of high street shops including Gap, Debenhams and Boots. 

Pilot group

Over the next year, Solent NHS Trust is seeking a pilot group of 20 expectant mothers, enrolled on its family nurse partnership, to take part.

The participants will be regularly monitored to ensure that they are not smoking. 

They will be asked to set a quit date at the start of the project and will attend weekly support sessions.

The women will also receive a bonus voucher at the end of the study if they remain smoke-free for six weeks after the baby is born.

Support women

The trust said young women are four times more likely to smoke before or during pregnancy compared with older women and they are less likely to quit. 

Diane Henty, a family nurse supervisor who is the lead researcher for the pilot, said: ‘This study is designed to support women to stop smoking to protect themselves and their babies, rather than rewarding unhealthy lifestyle choices.  

‘The reality is that there are young mums who are smoking and could benefit from additional support to drop the habit.’

The trial is also supported by Southampton City Council. 

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