Policy Powers and Politics: Child Abuse or a Public Health Crisis?

This essay examines the contentious issue of whether smoking during pregnancy should be classified and punished as child abuse. The author argues against this classification, citing potential negative consequences such as discouraging pregnant women from seeking necessary medical care and treatment. Instead, the essay advocates for a treatment-based approach, highlighting the effectiveness of smoking cessation programs and medical consultations. Studies from South Africa, the US, Australia, and Italy are referenced to support the argument that treatment and education are more effective in encouraging smoking cessation among pregnant women than punitive measures. The essay emphasizes the importance of high-quality learning programs and pharmacological considerations in addressing the health issues associated with smoking during pregnancy. The essay concludes by reiterating the need to prioritize treatment and support over punishment in addressing smoking during pregnancy.

Policy Powers and Politics

The topic is that should smoking during pregnancy be
typed as child abuse and be punished.
It is well known that smoking during the pregnancy is
not safe for the babies.
I am not agree with the views or opinions of affirmative
speakers that smoking by a person at the time of
pregnancy comes in the category of child abuse.
Because, it may create the more and more bad situations.

My first point is that there are two types of child abuse.
First is physical abuse and second is child endangerment .
The physical abuse crimes need intractable infliction of a
cruel punishment.
On the other hand, people can be guilty of children
endangerment, while the person cause or permit the child
to bear unforgivable physical hurt or mental stress.
In place of punishment, the right approach is treatment.
The treatment is better than trial.

Nobody wants to be punished as the criminal. The
punishment is biggest fear for the person.
My point is that if females will be threatened from the
punishment, they will not go to clinic for the medical care or
treatment.
It is not good to give punishment to the person who smokes
during the pregnancy. The treatment is better remedy instead
of punishment.

According to South African study, the modern approach of
medical consultant in place of punishment, is successful in
attaining the object of programs related to smoking cessation.
The communication by medical consultant may resolve the
issues of smoking during the pregnancy.
It is also discovered by US study that smoking cessation rate
was 17.3%. Now after conducting smoking cessation
programs, it is 8.8%
It is clear from above studies that, treatment is better than trial
or punishment.

The study of Australia and Italy states that breastfeeding can
also encourage smoking cessation in indirect manner.
 It is required that smoking cessation must be encouraged by
the treatment in place of the trial.
The high quality learning programs the pharmacological aspect
requires to be taken more in the consideration.
The education and programs state the health issues to the
pregnant females.

References
 Ekblad, M., Korkeila, J., and Lehtonen, L. (2015) Smoking during
pregnancy affects foetal brain development. Acta paediatrica, 104(1), pp.
12-18.
 Ko, T. J., Tsai, L. Y., Chu, L. C., Yeh, S. J., Leung, C., Chen, C. Y., Chou,
H. C., Tsao, P. N., Chen, P. C., and Hsieh, W. S. (2014) Parental smoking
during pregnancy and its association with low birth weight, small for
gestational age, and preterm birth offspring: a birth cohort study. Pediatrics
& neonatology, 55(1), pp. 20-27.
 Pineles, B. L., Hsu, S., Park, E., and Samet, J. M. (2016) Systematic review
and meta-analyses of perinatal death and maternal exposure to tobacco
smoke during pregnancy. American journal of epidemiology, 184(2), pp.
87-97.
 Pineles, B. L., Park, E., and Samet, J. M. (2014) Systematic review and
meta-analysis of miscarriage and maternal exposure to tobacco smoke
during pregnancy. American journal of epidemiology, 179(7), pp. 807-823.