• A narrative review by Chaudhary et al shed light on pregnant tobacco users.

• They also highlighted the strategy followed for cessation initiatives, which include:

1. Tobacco use during pregnancy is linked to adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, with 5-8% of Indian pregnant women reported to consume tobacco.

2. Smokeless tobacco forms are more prevalent among Indian pregnant women than smoked tobacco.

3. Tobacco use during pregnancy increases the risk of various complications, including anemia, placental abnormalities, gestational diabetes, preterm birth, and congenital anomalies.

• Challenges in identifying and counseling pregnant tobacco users include the following:

1. Low-risk perception 

2. Lack of targeted screening

3. Inadequate training of healthcare workers

4. Poor utilization of antenatal care services

• Access to tobacco cessation counseling and services is limited, with insufficient IEC material and overburdened healthcare systems contributing to the issue.

• Addressing these challenges requires evidence-based policy framing, in-service training of healthcare staff, increasing the accessibility of tobacco cessation centers, and community-based interventions.

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