Preventive Care Services: A Case Study

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) makes recommendations about specific preventive care services for patients without related signs or symptoms and one topic that is addressed is tobacco use counseling for pregnant women. According the USPSTF, nearly 18% of the U.S. population currently smoke and tobacco use is the cause of preventable disease and death. Women who smoke during pregnancy put themselves at risk for congenital anomalies; perinatal complications, such as preterm birth, fetal growth restriction, and placental abruption; miscarriage and stillbirth; and neonatal or pediatric complications, such as sudden infant death syndrome and impaired lung function in childhood. With regards to the prevention of these commodities,