CDC: 1 in 14 Women Vape During Pregnancy

Seven percent of women surveyed reported the use of electronic vapor products (EVPs) shortly before, during, or after pregnancy, according to the CDC.

In order to estimate the use of EVPs among women with recent live births, researchers examined data from the 2015 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System for Oklahoma and Texas. The use of EVPs before pregnancy, defined as >3 months before, as well as any time during the 3 months before pregnancy, the last 3 months of pregnancy, and 2 to 6 months after delivery was assessed.

Overall, the prevalence of EVP use was 10.4% before pregnancy and 7% around the time of pregnancy, including 1.4% during the last 3 months of pregnancy. Among those using EVPs during the last 3 months of pregnancy, 38.4% reported using EVPs containing nicotine, while 26.4% were unsure of whether or not their products contained nicotine.

Among women who used both EVPs and cigarettes, 38% used both in the 3 months before pregnancy, 7.7% during the last 3 months of pregnancy, and 11.8% two to 6 months after delivery.

The most common reasons for EVP use during pregnancy were curiosity, smoking cessation efforts, and the perception of reduced harm when compared with cigarette smoking.

“Messages that EVPs are not safe to use during pregnancy and that nicotine adversely affects fetal development and infant outcomes need to be clearly communicated. Health care providers can offer education, counseling, and evidence-based cessation treatment to prevent use of all tobacco products, including EVPs, by women before, during, and after pregnancy,” the researchers wrote.

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Kapaya M, D’Angelo DV, Tong VT, et al. Use of electronic vapor products before, during, and after pregnancy among women with a recent live birth — Oklahoma and Texas, 2015. MMWR. 2019;68(8):189–194.