Pregnant Women Perceptions of Cannabinoid Use in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

There is an increased threat to pregnant women and their fetuses due to the lack of knowledge and current policies of cannabinoid use during pregnancy. Inconclusive evidence of cannabinoid use during pregnancy prevents the development of standard guidelines and education regarding risks on long-term maternal and child health outcomes. This observational study investigated pregnant women's attitudes and beliefs and the prevalence of clinician counseling on cannabinoid use during pregnancy.

A 45-item questionnaire was distributed to pregnant women receiving prenatal care at 2 obstetrics and gynecology clinics in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize pregnant women's attitudes and beliefs, sources of information, prevalence of cannabidiol (CBD) use, and prevalence of clinician counseling on tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and CBD use during pregnancy.

A total of 95 questionnaires were collected from pregnant women during prenatal care visits. The majority of participants were non-White (54%) with a high school diploma (30%) and average age of 29 years old. Pregnant women's beliefs related to the use of cannabinoids on their own physical, social, and emotional health was "somewhat better." In contrast, women's beliefs related to the impact of cannabinoids use on their fetus and on birth outcomes was negative. Participants reported a lack of knowledge of THC (55%) and CBD (77%) use during pregnancy. Since their first prenatal care visit, over 60% of participants reported that they did not receive counseling regarding cannabinoid use during pregnancy, and the internet was the preferred source for information on THC (73%) and CBD (80%) use during pregnancy.

Pregnant women lack informed guidance and education on the effect of cannabinoid use during pregnancy. The possibility of misinformation poses a risk to maternal and child health outcomes. Future research should focus on health communication and risk assessments on cannabinoid use during pregnancy for prevention and treatment.