At Wednesday’s meeting of the Monroe County Board of Commissioners, the board signed off on an application for the renewal of a grant from the Indiana State Department of Health for a program called Baby and Me Tobacco Free.

If it’s approved, the county will receive $29,906 to support a smoking cessation program for pregnant women.

For pregnant women to stop smoking benefits the child, because according to the Center for Disease Control, smoking during pregnancy increases risk of pre-term birth, low birth weight and birth defects of the mouth and lip.

A higher percentage of pregnant women in Monroe County smoke than in the rest of the state, based on numbers from the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH). And a higher percentage of pregnant women in Indiana smoke than in the rest of the country, according to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Continue reading “Monroe County applies for renewal of smoking cessation grant for pregnant women” →