Marijuana, tobacco, alcohol and cocaine use during pregnancy in 2013 and 2016. A self-report study in Montevideo, Uruguay.

BACKGROUND

Uruguay passed Law 19.172 on December 20, 2013, thus enabling the State to regulate the production, distribution, sale, and consumption of cannabis.

OBJECTIVES

to determine the change in maternal self-report of marijuana, tobacco, alcohol, and cocaine use during pregnancy between 2013 and 2016.

METHODS

cross-sectional, descriptive, analytical study between 2013 and 2016. The sample consists of pregnant woman who delivered and received immediate postpartum care at the Centro Hospitalario Pereira Rossell in Montevideo, Uruguay. The instrument was a protocolized survey that assessed outcomes such as sociodemographic level, years of formal education, data on pregnancy, childbirth, newborn, and substance use before and during pregnancy.

RESULTS

the sample consisted of 577 pregnant women, 319 corresponding to interviews conducted in 2013 and 258 in 2016. Regarding alcohol intake, 76 (23.82%) women reported drinking while pregnant in 2013, whereas in 2016, 91 (35.3%) (p=.003) did so. As for tobacco, 59 (43%) quit smoking when they found out about their pregnancy in 2013, and 69 (60%) quit in 2016 (p=.008). In 2013, 41 women (12.85%) smoked marijuana until they discovered their pregnancy, and 79 (30%) did so in 2016 (p < .001). The use of cocaine and its derivatives did not change significantly between 2013 and 2016.

CONCLUSIONS

between 2013 and 2016, there was a significant increase in the self-report of marijuana and alcohol consumption before and during pregnancy. The consumption of cocaine and cocaine base paste remained stable during this period. Tobacco use decreased significantly in pregnant women.