OBJECTIVE: To analyze and deepen understanding about what pregnant women who are tobacco/nicotine dependents think and experience about these conditions. METHOD: Qualitative research using narratives obtained from a purposive sample of pregnant or puerperal smokers or who discontinued tobacco use during pregnancy. The narratives' statements of fourteen patients from Family Health Units of a Brazilian municipality were analyzed. RESULTS: Four categories were formulated: the desire to stop using, contrasting with the unidentified role professionals and services; questions about the health of the mother and her child; sociocultural and family issues and, finally, what is termed here as "spontaneous epidemiology". Social representations that were observed show discrepancies and homologies with the ways in which health sciences deal with smoking during pregnancy. The participants considered not to exist a therapeutic culture for nicotine dependence in Primary Health Care services they frequent, and they seemed to be distressed about this issue as well with the socio-cultural and family conflicts they face. A peculiar understanding about the health risks came to light. CONCLUSION: Although the results are not generalizable, the tensions observed strongly suggest the need for further adaptation of the Primary Health Care to the needs of pregnant smokers.
Family Health Units; smoking; pregnancy; qualitative research
