title: e-Cigarette Use and Perceived Harm Among Women of Childbearing Age Who Reported Tobacco Use During the Past Year.
abstract: The prevalence of electronic cigarette use grows. Amid increased e-cigarette use nationwide, this paper attempts to identify underlying risk factors for the most vulnerable populations.
  
  
  
  The purpose of the study was to assess predictors of e-cigarette use among female current and former tobacco users of childbearing age-specifically to determine whether demographic factors, pregnancy status, conventional cigarette smoking, and perceived e-cigarette harm are associated with e-cigarette use. Reasons for using e-cigarettes were also measured.
  
  
  
  A cross-sectional, correlational design was used; 194 current and former female tobacco users, 18-45 years of age, from two university-affiliated prenatal clinics and one women's health clinic in Kentucky took part. Slightly more than half were pregnant. Age, race/ethnicity, education, pregnancy status, use history for cigarettes and e-cigarettes, and perception of health hazard from e-cigarettes were measured, and associations with e-cigarette use were made with Mann-Whitney U-tests or Spearman's rank correlations. Predictors of e-cigarette use were determined using proportional odds modeling.
  
  
  
  Most current e-cigarette users were also current cigarette smokers (88%). Nearly half of current and former e-cigarette users were pregnant. Most women perceived e-cigarettes as a minor (38%) or moderate (31%) health hazard. In the proportional odds model, younger women were at greater risk for e-cigarette use, whereas minority women and those who were pregnant were less likely to be e-cigarette users.
  
  
  
  Pregnant women were less likely to be more recent e-cigarette users, compared with nonpregnant women. However, nearly all current e-cigarette users were dual tobacco users, including pregnant women. It is both imperative and timely to determine the impact of e-cigarette use on maternal and infant health, thus improving healthcare provider confidence to discuss the health implications of e-cigarette use with their patients.
authors: Kristin Ashford, PhD, WHNP-BC, FAAN, is Assistant Dean of Research and Associate Professor; Amanda Wiggins, PhD, is Associate Professor; Karen Butler, DNP, RN, is Associate Professor, College of Nursing, University of Kentucky, Lexington. Melinda Ickes, PhD, is Assistant Professor, Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion, University of Kentucky, Lexington. Mary Kay Rayens, PhD, is Professor, College of Nursing, University of Kentucky, Lexington. Ellen Hahn, PhD, RN, FAAN, is Professor, Marcia A. Dake Professorship, College of Nursing, University of Kentucky, Lexington.
authors: Kristin
authors: K
authors: Ashford
authors: Amanda
authors: A
authors: Wiggins
authors: Karen
authors: K
authors: Butler
authors: Melinda
authors: M
authors: Ickes
authors: Mary Kay
authors: MK
authors: Rayens
authors: Ellen
authors: E
authors: Hahn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D066300:Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D064424:Tobacco Use / Q000523:psychology; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult