title: Prevalence and Perceptions of Electronic Cigarette Use during Pregnancy.
abstract: Objectives The current study is the first to assess pregnant women's perceptions of e-cigarettes and the prevalence of e-cigarette use during pregnancy, using a national sample of pregnant women (N = 445) recruited online. Methods An online survey was used to assess the prevalence and perceptions of e-cigarette use among pregnant women, including perceptions of e-cigarette safety. Results In our sample, 5.62% (n = 25) of women solely used tobacco cigarettes, 6.52% (n = 29) solely used e-cigarettes, 8.54% (n = 38) used both tobacco cigarettes and e-cigarettes, and 79.33% (n = 353) used neither tobacco cigarettes nor e-cigarettes during their current pregnancy. Overall, 64.27% (n = 286) of participants viewed e-cigarettes as being safer than tobacco cigarettes. Having seen advertisements for e-cigarettes increased likelihood of viewing them as safer than tobacco cigarettes (OR [Odds Ratio] = 2.5, p < .01). Conclusions for Practice Taken together, findings from this study suggest that at least as many women use e-cigarettes during pregnancy as tobacco cigarettes, that pregnant women view e-cigarettes as being safer than tobacco cigarettes, and that these views may be influenced by exposure to e-cigarette advertisements.
authors.affiliation: Human Development and Quantitative Methodology, University of Maryland, 3942 Campus Drive, College Park, MD, 20742, USA. njwagner@umd.edu.
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Camerota
authors.affiliation: The Center for Developmental Science, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Cathi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Propper
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000329:Advertising; D066300:Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D000068097:Maternal Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D011247:Pregnancy; D037841:Pregnant People; D015995:Prevalence; D012449:Safety; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D061108:Social Media; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Electronic cigarettes; Maternal health; Nicotine; Pregnancy; Smoking