Tricia E Wright1, Elizabeth Tam. 1. Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Hawaii, USA. tewright@hawaii.edu
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Significant disparity in smoking rates has been previously reported in pregnant and non-pregnant women of Native Hawaiian ancestry. Disparities in drug use rates have also been reported in non-pregnant women of Native Hawaiian ancestry. OBJECTIVE: We undertook this study to compare rates of smoking and drug use during pregnancy among women in Hawaii to see if these differences are associated with disparities in pregnancy complications among Native Hawaiian women. METHODS: Women were enrolled in the Pacific Research Center on Early Human Development study from July 2007 to January 2008, according to approved protocols. Persistent smoking was defined as self-reported smoking within 1 week of admission for labor. Drug use data was assessed by self-report, or if available, toxicology tests at the time of labor. RESULTS: There were 868 women enrolled in the study during this period. Women of Hawaiian/part-Hawaiian ancestry comprised 22% of the study population. Rates of persistent smoking and drug use among Hawaiian women were significantly higher than the remainder of the study population (21% and 8.3% vs. 7.8% and 2.1%, respectively, P < .001 for both). Methamphetamine use was associated with an almost 5-fold increase in preterm birth and smoking a 3.4% decrease in birth weights. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Women of Hawaiian ancestry continue to smoke and use illicit drugs during pregnancy at significantly higher rates than women of other ethnic groups in Hawaii. In addition to the immediate effects on pregnancy, long-term adverse outcomes of in utero exposures of the offspring remain an important health disparity.
BACKGROUND: Significant disparity in smoking rates has been previously reported in pregnant and non-pregnant women of Native Hawaiian ancestry. Disparities in drug use rates have also been reported in non-pregnant women of Native Hawaiian ancestry. OBJECTIVE: We undertook this study to compare rates of smoking and drug use during pregnancy among women in Hawaii to see if these differences are associated with disparities in pregnancy complications among Native Hawaiian women. METHODS:Women were enrolled in the Pacific Research Center on Early Human Development study from July 2007 to January 2008, according to approved protocols. Persistent smoking was defined as self-reported smoking within 1 week of admission for labor. Drug use data was assessed by self-report, or if available, toxicology tests at the time of labor. RESULTS: There were 868 women enrolled in the study during this period. Women of Hawaiian/part-Hawaiian ancestry comprised 22% of the study population. Rates of persistent smoking and drug use among Hawaiian women were significantly higher than the remainder of the study population (21% and 8.3% vs. 7.8% and 2.1%, respectively, P < .001 for both). Methamphetamine use was associated with an almost 5-fold increase in preterm birth and smoking a 3.4% decrease in birth weights. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION:Women of Hawaiian ancestry continue to smoke and use illicit drugs during pregnancy at significantly higher rates than women of other ethnic groups in Hawaii. In addition to the immediate effects on pregnancy, long-term adverse outcomes of in utero exposures of the offspring remain an important health disparity.
Authors: Linda Chang; Kenichi Oishi; Jon Skranes; Steven Buchthal; Eric Cunningham; Robyn Yamakawa; Sara Hayama; Caroline S Jiang; Daniel Alicata; Antonette Hernandez; Christine Cloak; Tricia Wright; Thomas Ernst Journal: JAMA Psychiatry Date: 2016-12-01 Impact factor: 21.596