Smoking amongst pregnant women creates problems both due to the irreversible harm to the fetus and as affecting the women's health. However according to many studies women continue to smoke while pregnant. Thus the purpose of this study is to locate factors influencing the decision of pregnant women to smoke. Understanding these factors may help nursing staff design efficient intervention programs accordingly.

            The study was based on Ajzen's (1988) theory of reasoned action, which examines the effect of various factors that influence a person's intention to perform a behavior. A questionnaire was constructed based on this theory. Its reliability is Cronbach's alpha 0.87. The research population consisted of 80 pregnant women who used to smoke prior to their pregnancy. 44 (55%) of them smoked while pregnant (during at least one pregnancy) and 36 (45%) ceased smoking following their intention to conceive or during the pregnancy.

            The study findings indicate that there is a significant correlation between personal beliefs regarding smoking, pregnant women's ability of self-control, subjective norms (family member) and the women's decision to smoke while pregnant. Therefore the theoretical model succeeds in predicting women's intention to cease or continue smoking while pregnant. An additional variable found to influence women's decision to smoke is their level of knowledge. The higher the women's level of knowledge regarding the harms of smoking the greater the chance that they would cease smoking. Another variable is the variable of religion. The higher women's level of religiosity the greater the chance that they would smoke while pregnant.

            The research conclusions indicate the significance of designing a nursing intervention program aimed at increasing the level of knowledge of women of reproductive age and at refuting misconceptions of the harms of smoking, particularly those related to miscarriages and birth defects.