Tobacco and nicotine delivery product use in a national sample of pregnant women

Introduction:
This text provides an analysis of the use of tobacco and nicotine delivery products among pregnant women in the United States. The study uses data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study to estimate the prevalence of use of various products and examines the correlates of use. The text also discusses the implications of these findings for tobacco control and regulatory strategies.

Key Points:

* The study found that conventional tobacco cigarettes were the most commonly used tobacco product among pregnant women, followed by e-cigarettes, hookah, and any cigar.
* Prevalence of use of other tobacco products was much higher among current smokers than the general population, with e-cigarettes being the most prevalent.
* Sociodemographic characteristics such as poverty, low educational attainment, and White race were correlated with current cigarette smoking.
* Current cigarette smoking and past year illicit drug use were correlated with using e-cigarettes, hookah, and cigars.
* The study highlights the need for more intensive tobacco control and regulatory strategies targeting pregnant women, including the inclusion of other tobacco products in routine clinical screening.

Main Message:
The key message of this text is that tobacco and nicotine use during pregnancy extends beyond cigarettes. The study found that pregnant women represent a highly vulnerable population in terms of exposure to tobacco and nicotine products, and that use of these other products should be included in routine clinical screening. The findings suggest that more intensive tobacco control and regulatory strategies are needed to protect pregnant women and their fetuses from the harmful effects of tobacco and nicotine use.

Kurti, Allison N., Ryan Redner, Alexa A. Lopez, Diana R. Keith, Andrea C. Villanti, Cassandra A. Stanton, Diann E. Gaalema, et al. “Tobacco and Nicotine Delivery Product Use in a National Sample of Pregnant Women.” Preventive Medicine 104 (November 2017): 50–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2017.07.030.