Barriers and enablers for smoking cessation amongst pregnant women: An umbrella review

The aim of this study is to summarise the qualitative findings from systematic reviews to identify what pregnant women perceive as barriers and enablers to smoking cessation during pregnancy. Background: Smoking during pregnancy is a predictor of adverse maternal and infant outcomes. Despite known health risks, less than half of pregnant smokers quit during pregnancy. Methods: An umbrella review using the Johanna Briggs Institute methodology was conducted. A comprehensive literature review was completed in July 2017. All included papers were subject to an eligibility criterion and checked for quality by at least two reviewers. Findings: A total of n = 529 papers were identified and screened. Of these, only two met all inclusion and quality criteria and were included for review. More barriers than facilitators were identified from the available literature. Conclusion: An enabler or barrier to smoking cessation for pregnant women is not a fixed entity but dependent on the context of an individual's life. What is an enabler for one woman may be considered a barrier for another, and these are dependent on support provided by family and friends. Further research is needed to optimise ways of addressing these barriers.