Characteristics of Marijuana Use During Pregnancy - Eight States, Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, 2017.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional surveillance survey analysis
PubMed 32790656 · doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6932a2
What was done
The CDC analyzed data from eight states participating in the 2017 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) marijuana supplement. The study evaluated population-based self-reported rates of marijuana use before, during, and after pregnancy, identified reported reasons and modes of use, and examined multivariable-adjusted characteristics (including age, race/ethnicity, marital status, education, insurance status, parity, timing of prenatal care, and cigarette/e-cigarette use) associated with continuing versus ceasing marijuana use during pregnancy.
What was found
Overall, 9.8% of women self-reported marijuana use before pregnancy, 4.2% during pregnancy, and 5.5% after pregnancy. The most common self-reported reasons for use during pregnancy were relieving stress or anxiety, nausea or vomiting, and pain, with smoking being the most common mode. In multivariable models, women who continued versus ceased marijuana use during pregnancy were more likely to be non-Hispanic White or other race/ethnicity (compared to non-Hispanic Black), unmarried, have ≤12 years of education, and use cigarettes during pregnancy.
Why it matters
This study provides multistate surveillance estimates on perinatal marijuana use, highlighting self-treatment of nausea, pain, and anxiety as primary drivers, which can guide prenatal counseling and public health interventions.
Limits
The findings rely entirely on retrospective self-reported survey data without biochemical verification, risking underreporting due to social desirability bias. The total sample size is not stated in the abstract, and data are limited to eight states in 2017, limiting generalizability to other states or current policy environments.
Cited by
- contradicts Approximately 15% of pregnant women in the United States report using cannabis in some form during pregnancy.