The impact of smoking and other substance use by urban women on the birthweight of their infants.
The impact of maternal smoking and other substance use during pregnancy on infant birthweight is demonstrated in a sample of 766 urban women, using data collected in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area Drug Study (DC*MADS). Women residing and giving birth in the District of Columbia were interviewed in 1992. A multivariable linear regression model was used to quantify the association between birthweight and the mother's use of cigarettes, alcohol, or illicit drugs during pregnancy, while controlling for possible confounding variables. The analysis focused on factors, including prenatal care and substance use during pregnancy that may contribute to low birthweight infants born to this sample of urban, predominantly black women. A woman's use of cigarettes, marijuana, and heroin during pregnancy was related to infant birthweight, but her use of alcohol and cocaine during pregnancy was not significantly related. Smoking during pregnancy was a strong predictor for low birthweight, suggesting that targeting more smoking cessation programs for pregnant women, particularly those who may also be illicit drug users, could help reduce adverse health consequences for low birthweight infants.
Visscher
Wendy A
WA
RTI, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA. wav@rti.org
Feder
Moshe
M
Burns
Allison M
AM
Brady
Thomas M
TM
Bray
Robert M
RM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000208:ethnology; D004219:District of Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000208:ethnology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000208:ethnology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires