Maternal substance use and infant temperament in health professional shortage areas: socioeconomic and religious influences.

AIMS/

BACKGROUND

Perinatal use of alcohol, caffeine, and second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure is associated with a variety of adverse birth outcomes and may be associated with adverse infant temperament outcomes. This study aimed to examine the relationship among maternal substance use, maternal sociodemographic factors, and infant temperament.

DESIGN/

METHODS

Using longitudinal data for 96 women and their infants in a health provider shortage area (HPSA), we examined the relationship between infant temperament and maternal alcohol and caffeine use, and SHS exposure prior to, during, and 6 months following pregnancy. We also assessed the relationship between religion, social support, employment status, and income with maternal substance use. Substance use was quantified via a semi-structured timeline follow-back interview and infant temperament was measured using the Infant Behaviour Questionnaire-Revised Short Form.

RESULTS

SHS exposure was negatively correlated with infants' perceptual sensitivity. Non-Latter-day Saints religious affiliation was associated with alcohol use during pre-pregnancy, prenatal, and postnatal periods and caffeine use postnatally. Greater annual income was associated with less prenatal alcohol use and SHS exposure. Those without a college degree consumed more caffeine during pregnancy and were exposed to more second-hand smoke before, during, and after pregnancy.

CONCLUSION

Greater SHS may be related to less 6-month perceptual sensitivity though additional research is needed. Religious affiliation, income, and education were associated with substance use at various time points around pregnancy. This study informs protective influences on maternal substance use in HPSAs. Future studies should investigate perinatal substance use and infant temperament in socioculturally diverse samples, incorporating multi-method approaches.