Routine delivery data from maternity units were linked with SSS referral data. 37,726 singleton deliveries, including 10,594 smokers, were analysed. Referrals increased by 2.5 fold (95% CI 2.2-2.8) after implementation, and the odds of quitting during pregnancy nearly doubled (adjusted OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.5-2.2). Birthweight was 6.5% (95% CI 5.8%-7.2%) higher for babies born to women who quit during pregnancy compared with those who continued smoking, equivalent to 200g increase at term. 30 pregnant women (9 pregnant smokers) needed to be treated for each additional quit, at an estimated cost of £938 per quit.
An accompanying process evaluation interviewed staff (n=99) and pregnant women (n=17). The contextual variables and active ingredients of the intervention were identified. It found that the intervention was acceptable to pregnant women, midwifery and stop smoking staff and was generally introduced with fidelity.
Source of funding: babyClear implementation across the North East was funded in its first year by Fresh and the North East Strategic Health Authority.
The academic evaluation of babyClear, led by Newcastle and Teesside universities has been funded by a bid to the NIHR School for Public Health Research (SPHR)
