Prevalence and Perceptions of Electronic Cigarette Use during Pregnancy

Matern Child Health J. 2017 Aug;21(8):1655-1661. doi: 10.1007/s10995-016-2257-9.

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.

Keywords: Electronic cigarettes; Maternal health; Nicotine; Pregnancy; Smoking.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Advertising
  • Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems*
  • Ethnicity / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Humans
  • Maternal Health
  • Middle Aged
  • Perception*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnant Women*
  • Prevalence
  • Safety
  • Smoking / epidemiology
  • Social Media
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Young Adult