title: Birth outcomes associated with cannabis use before and during pregnancy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to examine the association between cannabis use before and during pregnancy and birth outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 26.3% of women reported previous use of cannabis and 2.6% reported current use. Multivariate analysis, controlling for potential confounders, including tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, and use of other illicit drugs, showed that cannabis use in pregnancy was associated with low birth weight (odds ratio (OR) = 1.7; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3-2.2), preterm labor (OR = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.1-1.9), small for gestational age (OR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.8-2.7), and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (OR = 2.0; 95% CI: 1.7-2.4).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study show that the use of cannabis in pregnancy is associated with increased risk of adverse birth outcomes. Prevention programs that address cannabis use during pregnancy are needed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were from women birthing at the Mater Mothers' Hospital in Brisbane, Australia, over a 7-y period (2000-2006). Women were interviewed in the initial antenatal visit about their use of cannabis and other substances. Records for 24,874 women who provided information about cannabis use, and for whom birth outcomes data were available, were included in the analysis.
authors.affiliation: School of Population Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. m.hayatbakhsh@uq.edu.au
authors.forename: Mohammad R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hayatbakhsh
authors.forename: Vicki J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Flenady
authors.forename: Kristen S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Gibbons
authors.forename: Ann M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kingsbury
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hurrion
authors.forename: Abdullah A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Mamun
authors.forename: Jake M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Najman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016015:Logistic Models; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015995:Prevalence; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult