Program empowering pregnant First Nations women to live smoke-free expands nationally

Dechlan Brennan Published September 9, 2024 at 12.00pm (AWST)

health

A groundbreaking and community-designed initiative to help pregnant First Nations women quit smoking has announced a national expansion after clinical trials this week. (Image: Marley Morgan)

A groundbreaking and community-designed initiative to help pregnant First Nations women quit smoking has announced a national expansion after clinical trials this week.

The iSISTAQUIT program will launch nationally after the testing of training and resources involving more than 40 health services throughout Australia, including many Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (ACCHOs).

It features a self-paced four-hour online training now available to individual health professionals including midwives, nurses, Aboriginal health workers, GPs and obstetricians, as well health services such as ACCHOs, Medical Centres and Hospitals.

Senior Program Manager and Kamilaroi-Gomeroi woman, Rebecca Hyland said it was the goal of iSISTAQUIT was to provide training and resources to health professionals to best support pregnant Indigenous women "to create a smoke-free future for themselves and their unborn child".

"Our women are strong, resilient and motivated to quit smoking and vaping in pregnancy, so we need health professionals trained and ready to assist," Ms Hyland said.

iSISTAQUIT project lead, Professor Gillian Gould said the program was heavily supported by the organisations that took part, noting: "92 per cent of the health professionals that were part of the course recommend the iSISTAQUIT training."

Data from the National Perinatal Data Collection has shown the proportion of First Nations mothers who smoke during pregnancy has decreased over time.

Nonetheless, the Australian institute of Health and Welfare notes First Nations mothers are more likely to smoke during pregnancy than non-Indigenous mothers.

Ms Hyland said iSISTAQUIT's smoking and vaping cessation training featured free educational resources, including a treatment manual, consultation flipchart and a 'My Journey Booklet' for clients.

"These were a result of hearing from health professionals that although 100% of them said not smoking in pregnancy is vitally important, many did not have the confidence, skills or optimism to have that chat," Ms Hyland said.

"All health professionals are eligible for CPD points from the training."

Registration for the training can be made by emailing [email protected].