State targeting region's pregnant smokers 

Cancel's success is not hers alone. She's one of many pregnant women helped by state health officials. The reason for all the attention comes down to some troubling statistics: Across Pennsylvania, 18 percent of pregnant women continue to smoke before their baby is born -- and here in northwest Pennsylvania, that number skyrockets to 28 percent.

While that number may be worrisome to anyone who suspects that smoking and pregnancy should not mix, to health officials the staggering local statistic demands they take action. . . .

Among those most devoted to the cause is Shannon Eckels of St. Marys, the region's tobacco control coordinator for the Department of Health. "We're not quite sure why our numbers here are so high," she says. "But I think a lot of it is because we're very rural and have higher poverty levels. In lower socio-economic sectors, you tend to see higher tobacco use.

"Basically, we've got to raise awareness. A lot of (pregnant women) don't realize how harmful this is (to their unborn baby). We have to give them the power they need to quit and then provide some resources along the way."

For young moms who probably wanted to quit smoking anyway, those resources add to the incentive to give it a shot. The list is impressive:

Jump to full article »