Most Teenagers who Obtain Prenatal Care at Public Clinics Discontinue Substance Use Early in Pregnancy

Abstract

Cigarette alcohol and illegal drug use patterns before and during pregnancy were investigated in a survey of 248 young women 15-19 years of age who presented to five public prenatal clinics in rural Arkansas in 1993-94 during their first trimester of pregnancy. 61% of respondents were Black and 81% were unmarried. Overall 79% reported use of any substance prior to the pregnancy and 49% had used at least one substance during their first trimester. At both time points Whites reported significantly higher rates of substance use than Blacks. 82% of White teens compared with 46% of Blacks had smoked cigarettes in the 6 months before pregnancy; 67% and 39% respectively had smoked during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. 42% of Whites and 25% of Blacks had used marijuana in the period before pregnancy; during the first trimester these rates were 19% and 6% respectively. 16% of teens in both groups drank during their first trimester. The proportion of respondents using two or more substances fell from 53% (33% of Blacks and 73% of Whites) in the 6 months preceding pregnancy to 3% (9% of Blacks and 3% of Whites) in the first trimester. Overall 16% fewer adolescents smoked during their first trimester than before conceiving 65% fewer used marijuana and 72% fewer used alcohol or other drugs. The decline in alcohol consumption was greater among Whites than Blacks (78% and 63% respectively) while that in marijuana use was greater among Blacks than Whites (76% and 55% respectively). Further understanding of the factors underlying ethnic differences in substance use patterns is required to facilitate the design of preventive programs.