Prenatal marijuana exposure and neonatal outcomes in Jamaica: an ethnographic study.
OBJECTIVE
To identify neurobehavioral effects of prenatal marijuana exposure on neonates in rural Jamaica.


METHODS
Ethnographic field studies and standardized neuro-behavior assessments during the neonatal period.


METHODS
Rural Jamaica in heavy-marijuana-using population.


METHODS
Twenty-four Jamaican neonates exposed to marijuana prenatally and 20 nonexposed neonates.


RESULTS
Exposed and nonexposed neonates were compared at 3 days and 1 month old, using the Brazelton Neonatal Assessment Scale, including supplementary items to capture possible subtle effects. There were no significant differences between exposed and nonexposed neonates on day 3. At 1 month, the exposed neonates showed better physiological stability and required less examiner facilitation to reach organized states. The neonates of heavy-marijuana-using mothers had better scores on autonomic stability, quality of alertness, irritability, and self-regulation and were judged to be more rewarding for caregivers.


CONCLUSIONS
The absence of any differences between the exposed on nonexposed groups in the early neonatal period suggest that the better scores of exposed neonates at 1 month are traceable to the cultural positioning and social and economic characteristics of mothers using marijuana that select for the use of marijuana but also promote neonatal development.
Dreher
M C
MC
School of Nursing, University of Massachusetts, Amherst 01003.
Nugent
K
K
Hudgins
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000884:Anthropology, Cultural; D002188:Cannabis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007563:Jamaica; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000208:ethnology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors