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Published on: August 25, 2014
Evaluating Household Income and Tobacco Exposure as Moderators of the Association Between Prenatal Cannabis Exposure
Jocelyn Stanfield1, Chaela Nutor1, Anne L Dunlop2
1Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Insights
Prenatal cannabis exposure did not directly impact newborn neurobehavior. However, low household income combined with cannabis exposure was linked to reduced attention and increased arousal in newborns.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal health
- Neurodevelopmental science
- Environmental health
Background:
- Substance use during pregnancy, particularly cannabis, is rising.
- Prenatal cannabis exposure is associated with neurobehavioral risks in infants.
- Understanding moderators like socioeconomic status is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between prenatal cannabis exposure and newborn neurobehavior.
- To examine the moderating roles of tobacco exposure and household income.
- To identify specific neurobehavioral outcomes affected by prenatal cannabis exposure and socioeconomic factors.
Main Methods:
- Study included 115 pregnant individuals and newborns from the Atlanta African American Maternal-Child cohort.
- Cannabis (COOH-THC) and tobacco (COT) biomarkers were measured in urine; self-reported use was collected.
- Newborn neurobehavior was assessed at one month using the NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale.
Main Results:
- No significant main effects of cannabis exposure (self-reported or biomarker) on newborn neurobehavior were found.
- Tobacco exposure did not moderate the relationship between cannabis exposure and neurobehavior.
- Significant interaction: cannabis-exposed newborns from low-income households showed reduced attention and heightened arousal.
Conclusions:
- Socioeconomic factors, specifically household income, significantly influence neurobehavioral outcomes in infants exposed to cannabis prenatally.
- Prenatal cannabis exposure's impact on infant neurobehavior may be exacerbated by lower socioeconomic status.
- Findings underscore the importance of considering socioeconomic context in research and interventions for prenatal substance exposure.
Abstract:
Prevalence rates for substance exposure during pregnancy are increasing, with cannabis emerging as one of the most common substances used. Infants with prenatal cannabis exposure face a greater risk of neurobehavioral vulnerabilities. The current study sought to examine the association between prenatal cannabis exposure and newborn neurobehavior, while also considering potential moderators (i.e., tobacco exposure and household income). The study included 115 pregnant individuals and their newborns enrolled in the Atlanta African American Maternal-Child cohort. Researchers quantitatively measured biomarkers of cannabis (COOH-THC) and tobacco smoke (COT) in urine samples collected at enrollment. Self-reported substance use was also collected during the first trimester of pregnancy. Newborn neurobehavior was assessed at 1 month of age (M = 25.3 days' old, SD = 14.41) using the NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale. There were no significant main effects of self-reported prenatal cannabis use or prenatal COOH-THC concentrations on newborn neurobehavior. Additionally, tobacco exposure did not moderate these associations. Significant interactions were found between household income and prenatal COOH-THC levels in predicting newborn attention and arousal. Specifically, cannabis-exposed newborns exhibited attenuated attention and heightened arousal if they were from low-income households. Our findings highlight the potential role that socioeconomic factors may play in influencing behavior associated with prenatal exposures.
