Least explored factors associated with prenatal smoking

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Maternal and Child Health
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Poor pregnancy and birth outcomes are significant public health issues in the United States.
• Maternal smoking during pregnancy is a leading preventable risk factor for adverse outcomes.
• Less-explored risk factors among underserved populations, particularly African American pregnant women, require investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine less-explored risk factors associated with smoking among underserved African American pregnant women.
• To identify sociodemographic, criminal history, social service, and substance use factors related to smoking during pregnancy.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 902 pregnant women at an inner-city university hospital clinic in Virginia.
• Data collected included sociodemographics, pregnancy history, criminal history, social services, substance abuse, domestic violence, and depression.
• Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine odds ratios and confidence intervals for smoking during pregnancy.

Main Results:

• Significant risk factors for smoking during pregnancy included maternal age, less than high school education, unemployment, criminal history, and receipt of social services.
• Alcohol use and illicit drug use were also statistically significant risk factors associated with smoking during pregnancy.
• Criminal history (OR=1.66) and receipt of social services (OR=2.26) emerged as important, less-explored factors.

Conclusions:

• Public health professionals must consider criminal history and social service receipt as key factors associated with maternal smoking.
• Intervention opportunities exist within social service settings like WIC, prisons, and jails for preconception and interconception education and cessation.
• Addressing these less-explored risk factors can contribute to improving pregnancy and birth outcomes in vulnerable populations.