Use of snus and smoking tobacco among pregnant women in the Agder counties.

Abstract

The use of snus during pregnancy increases the risk of stillbirths, premature delivery and reduced birthweight. People have been warned against smoking during pregnancy, but less so against the use of snus. We have investigated the use of snus and smoking tobacco among pregnant women in the Agder counties. Data on pregnant women and 10 583 births for the years 2012, 2013 and 2014 were retrieved from the electronic birth records of Sørlandet Hospital. In the three-year period 2012 – 2014, altogether 5 % used snus and 19 % used smoking tobacco before pregnancy and 2 % and 8 % respectively at the end of pregnancy. The use of snus before pregnancy increased from 3.6 % in 2012 to 6.8 % in 2014. The equivalent figures for the first trimester were 1.7 % and 3.4 %, and for the last trimester 1.2 % and 2.1 %. The use of smoking tobacco declined by 2 % over the three-year period. In the age group 16 – 24 years, a total of 12 % used snus before pregnancy and 5 % at the end. Of 522 women who used snus before their pregnancy, altogether 57.5 % had quit during the first trimester and 71.4 % during the third trimester. The corresponding figures for those 2 015 women who used smoking tobacco before their pregnancy were 45.2 % and 58.0 % (p < 0.001). The use of snus before and during pregnancy doubled over the three-year period 2012 – 2014. The use was especially widespread in the youngest age groups. The proportion of women who quit using snus during their pregnancy was significantly higher than the proportion that quit smoking.