Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice of Electronic Cigarette Use Among Pregnant Women

Abstract

Misconceptions about e-cigarettes are common among pregnant women, potentially motivating use that may pose risks to both maternal and child health. Screening and education regarding e-cigarettes should be included in prenatal care. Future research in this area is necessary, including research examining pregnancy outcomes among women who use e-cigarettes.

The Role of Nicotine in the Effects of Maternal Smoking during Pregnancy on Lung Development and Childhood Respiratory Disease. Implications for Dangers of E-Cigarettes

“…There are also complex societal underpinnings to smoking in pregnancy, because teen pregnancy, low income, low education, and living with a smoker are important factors increasing the odds of smoking during pregnancy, with a gradient linking the number of risk factors to the percentage of smoking (28). The estimated number of pregnant smokers is also likely underestimated; studies have shown at least 20% of pregnant smokers lie about their habit (29), which is even more concerning in the context of vapers, who may already believe vaping to be safe during pregnancy (4). Because the major addictive component of cigarette smoke is nicotine, these data strongly imply that at least 50% of vapers will continue to vape while pregnant despite best efforts at cessation (7,8).…”

“…The combination of the addictive nature of nicotine with the perception of relative safety suggests that e-cigarette use during pregnancy will likely increase (4). Although nicotine replacement therapy has been used during pregnancy (5,6), on the basis that nicotine alone will be safer than conventional cigarette use, the potential continued use of e-cigarettes by e-cigarette-only users during pregnancy raises heightened safety concerns of e-cigarette use during pregnancy.…”

“…Recent prospective studies show the use of e-cigarettes significantly increases likelihood of conventional cigarette use (14,15). Remarkably, a recent survey of pregnant women showed nearly 40% did not realize e-cigarettes contained nicotine or could be addictive, and 40% believed them to be less harmful than traditional cigarettes (4).…”

Is It Safe to Vape? Analyzing Online Forums Discussing E-Cigarette Use during Pregnancy

“…To date, three small-scale studies have examined lay perceptions of the safety of ecigarette use during pregnancy (Baeza-Loya et al, 2014;Fallin, Miller, Assef, & Ashford, 2016;Kahr et al, 2015;Mark et al, 2015). These studies have found that participants (many of whom were pregnant) viewed e-cigarette use during pregnancy as less harmful than smoking.…”

“…A survey conducted in the USA with 316 pregnant women reported that 13% of women had ever used an e-cigarette and only two women were using e-cigarettes daily; ever-users were typically older and current smokers (Mark, Farquhar, Chisolm, Coleman-Cowger, & Terplan, 2015). Evidence regarding the efficacy of e-cigarettes as a cessation device for pregnant women is absent, because trials typically exclude pregnant women (Bryce & Robson, 2015).…”