Give it up! – a new mobile app and campaign supporting women to quit smoking in Poland – project rationale and app description

Smoking during pregnancy is one of the most dangerous health behaviours. Historically, smoking during pregnancy in European countries was common. At the end of 20th century in many European countries, including Poland, around 20-40% of children were born after 9 month exposure to toxic factors of tobacco smoke. In the last decades prevalence of smoking among women has declined substantially. In 2015, the overall smoking prevalence among women in the WHO European region was 19.1%, while among pregnant women it was 5.9%. Female smoking rates in Asia contrast sharply with Europe. In the WHO Western Pacific region only 1.1% of women, and only 0.9% of pregnant women, are smokers.

In 2017 in Poland around 23 thousand children were born to mothers smoking during pregnancy. Therefore, the Health Promotion Foundation, in collaboration with MSD Foundation for Women’s Health, undertook the initiative to help Polish women quit smoking using new technologies. A mobile app called “Give it up!” has been created. This Polish-language app is designed for young women, especially those who are expecting a baby or thinking about motherhood. This publication presents the programme rationale and app description.