Helping Low Income Pregnant Women Quit Smoking: Improving the First Breath Program.

Background: Maternal smoking during pregnancy can have dire consequences for both baby and mother. In 2000, the Wisconsin Women's Health Foundation developed the First Breath program to address this challenge, particularly among low-income women. While this prenatal smoking cessation program was successful, 2 factors necessitated changes in the program: changes in the health care reimbursement environnment and a high postpartum relapse rate.

A randomized controlled trial of financial incentives to low income pregnant women to engage in smoking cessation treatment: Effects on post-birth abstinence.

Objective: Evaluate the effectiveness of monetary incentives for increasing engagement in smoking cessation treatment and improving 6-month abstinence in low-income pregnant smokers.

Method: Two-group randomized clinical trial recruiting low-income (Medicaid-registered) pregnant smokers receiving assistance through a perinatal support program. Participants were randomized to either an incentive (n = 505) or control condition (n = 509).