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Psychosocial Risks and Resources Associated with Smoking and Substance use During Pregnancy Among African American and Caucasian Low‐Income Women in the Midwest
Author(s) -
Jesse D. Elizabeth
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of midwifery and women's health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.543
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1542-2011
pISSN - 1526-9523
DOI - 10.1111/j.1542-2011.2004.tb04450.x
Subject(s) - psychosocial , citation , substance use , african american , medicine , psychology , library science , family medicine , gender studies , political science , history , psychiatry , sociology , law , ethnology , computer science
Background: This study examined associations between psychosocial and spiritual factors and health risk behaviors in pregnancy with African American and Caucasian lowincome women. Cigarette smoking during pregnancy is considered the most modifiable cause of adverse birth outcomes in the United States. Few, if any, studies have described the unique risks and resources for smoking or substance use in pregnancy within racial or ethnic groups. Methods: A total of 130 ethnically diverse pregnant women between ages of 14 and 44 were interviewed. Valid and reliable instruments included the Psychosocial Profile (PPP), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Spiritual Perspective Scale (SPS). Results: Significantly fewer of the African American women smoked than the Caucasian group of women (P .01). No significant differences were found in self-report of substance use between the two groups. African American women who smoked during pregnancy were significantly more likely than African American women who did not smoke to report lower levels of education (P .05), lower mean scores for other social support (P .05) and total social support (P .05), and a higher incidence of substance use (P .001). Caucasian women who smoked during pregnancy were more likely to not initially know that they were pregnant (P .01), have a higher incidence of substance use (P .001), and have a history of preterm birth or low birth weight infant (P .01) than the group of Caucasian women who did not smoke during pregnancy. Conclusion: The results of this study support integrating social support and early health promotion efforts in pregnancy.