Click Booklet to Read.
Download PDF in English or French.
Suggestions for Using “the Right Time… the Right Reasons” Booklet
Why a booklet for dads and why now?
Dads have attracted very little attention in terms of targeted tobacco reduction interventions. When men become fathers, they start to re-think their health behaviours.
What does the research say?
When expectant and new fathers reduce and quit smoking, they
increase their well-being;
Support women’s tobacco reduction efforts during pregnancy and the postpartum;
provide smoke free environments for children; and
strengthen families.
What do dads say?
Becoming a father is a significant transition time for them.
Transition influences many dimensions of their lives, including their attitudes to smoking.
Many new dads become uncomfortable with their smoking and want to reduce or quit as a way to be a good dad and role model.
Many new dads are interested in support for tobacco reduction and cessation.
How is this booklet different?
This innovative approach to behaviour change focuses on smoking as part of masculine identity and the desire to change behavior when men become fathers.
Rather than a “how to quit” guide, the focus in this booklet is on encouraging men to consider the advantages to being a dad who does not smoke. A powerful desire to be a non-smoking dad can successfully motivate a man to take action and engage
Purpose of the booklet
Take advantage of this important opportunity for change;
engage expectant and new dads in thinking about being a dad who does not smoke;
educate expectant and new dads about the health effects of secondhand smoke on their newborns, infants and children; and
inspire expectant and new dads to reach a “tipping point” for beginning to reduce and quit smoking.
What can I do?
I can start a conversation with dads about smoking that reinforces the messages in this booklet.
I can assesses their readiness to take the first step in reducing and quitting smoking.
I can encourage dads to become actively involved in the care of their infants.
I can help men manage the stresses associated with being a new father (ex: engaging in regular exercise).
Who are we?
We are a team of researchers and practitioners with extensive expertise in men’s health and men’s health promotion. We have been describing smoking patterns in pregnancy and postpartum, as well as developing and evaluating women-centred and men-centered tobacco reduction interventions for over eight years.
Download PDF in English.
Suggestions for Using the “Couples and Smoking” Booklet
Introduction: What You Need to Know When You are Pregnant
This is a self-help information booklet for pregnant and postpartum women who smoke, and is to be used along with other smoking cessation resources and programs.Unlike other smoking cessation resources for pregnant women, this booklet provides information about how partners influence women’s ability to quit smoking.The content is based on 8 years of research findings from the Families Controlling and Eliminating Tobacco (FACET) projects.
Why this booklet?
To help pregnant and postpartum women understand how smoking is influenced by the everyday household routines, and interactions with their partners; and to communicate a combination of information, self-assessments, questions and answers and options to address tobacco use.
What does the research say?
Couples develop habits and routines that include smoking (when one or both smoke). Ways of relating vary from couple to couple and are often taken for granted. Couples usually develop one of three types of Tobacco Related Interaction Patterns (TRIPs): accommodating, disengaged, or conflictual during pregnancy, the potential for conflict related to tobacco use can escalate for some couples.
What’s different about this book?
- Focus on smoking in the context of women’s lives and their relationships, rather than on fetal health
- Illuminates women’s experiences in reducing or stopping smoking during pregnancy and the postpartum period and how their partners influence this process
- Uses a women’s centred approach to avoid stigmatizing women’s smoking
- Provides suggestions about how to manage tensions related to tobacco use and appropiate support from their partner
What can I do?
- I can connect with moms to anourage use of this booklet as a supplement to other tobacco reduction resources
- I can reinforce the message in this booklet by providing guidance for moms on creating a supportive environment for tobacco control within their familiy (ex: suggest alternatives for relationship functions served by smoking)
- I can ask about the smoking status of pregnant women’s partners, and find out if women and experiencing pressure or coercion regarding their tobacco reduction/cessation efforts
- I can assess for partner smoking sttaus, and intervene directly with partners who smoke to provide advice about smoking cessation and information about resources