Betel quid chewing and risk of adverse birth outcomes among aborigines in eastern Taiwan.

It is known that substance abuse during pregnancy is associated with increased risk of adverse birth outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine the use of alcohol, cigarettes, betel quid, and drugs among pregnant aboriginal women and to assess the risk of adverse effects of betel quid use on birth outcomes in eastern Taiwan. Of a total of 229 women recruited into this study, 32 women with adverse birth outcomes constituted the case group. Analyses revealed that adverse birth outcomes were associated with maternal betel quid chewing and maternal age. After adjusting for maternal age, the risk of adverse birth outcome was five times higher among betel quid chewing women as compared to substance nonusers. Based on this finding, it is suggested health education, especially when concerned with the harmful effects of substance abuse, which includes betel quid use during pregnancy, should be stressed in concert with routine prenatal care.