Pregnant French women offered 300 euro to quit smoking

Hospitals in many cities in France are offering up to 300 euro to pregnant women who smoke if they give up nicotine.

The payments are part of a new study to test the impact of financial incentives on pregnant women's behavior. The study is being carried out by Paris' public hospital system, in association with the National Cancer Institute.

It will test whether offering pregnant women money will help convince them to avoid tobacco use during their pregnancies, The Independent reported.

Women over 18 who have been pregnant less than four months can participate the study if they smoke more than five cigarettes each day.

According to The Independent, expectant mothers will be compensated with €20 vouchers on each visit to their doctors, with the chance to earn up to 300 euro if they commit to not lighting up again.

The use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, or other tobacco products is banned during the test. Health authorities will frequently test participants to see if they are abiding by the rules.

The study comes after French health minister Marisol Touraine's statement: “France is the European country where pregnant women smoke the most."

Figures from 2015 revealed one in five French women failed to give up smoking during their pregnancies.