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Index: Health / Subcategory: Alcohol Tobacco & Other Drugs

Perinatal Alcohol and Tobacco Use

Date Posted: 04/15/2008

Chart Directory:

'The Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) is a population-based risk factor surveillance system designed to identify and monitor behaviors and experiences of women before, during, and after pregnancy. Colorado continues to have one of the highest low birth weight rates in the nation for total births and for births in all major racial and ethnic groups. PRAMS provides a method for the collection and analysis of perinatal data to better understand not only low birth weight rates, but also maternal behaviors, access to prenatal care, pregnancy intendedness, and health care delivery to women and infants in Colorado.

'The PRAMS questionnaire is mailed to a sample of Colorado women each month and telephone follow-up is conducted with women who do not return the survey by mail. The written questionnaires and telephone interviews can both be completed in English or Spanish. Approximately 240 women in Colorado receive the survey each month, with an expected response rate of at least 70% (Colorado Health Information Dataset).'

Where large increases are evident, it is important to note that the sample size is rather small, therefore these increases may be insignificant. See data tables for actual numbers and percentages.

What this chart shows: Maternal Report of Alcohol Use during Pregnancy

Maternal Report of Alcohol Use during Pregnancy

Data Source: Colorado Health Information Dataset-Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System

See data table

What these data tell us:

During the interview (see above for study method), mothers were asked: 'Did you drink alcohol during the last 3 months of your pregnancy?' Colorado and Larimer County mothers were not significantly different in the percent who reported that they did drink during that time. The figure was 11.2% for Colorado mothers and 12.9% for Larimer County mothers. From 2005 to 2006, there was a rise in the percentage of Larimer County mothers who consumed alcohol during the last 3 months of their pregnancy, from 9.8% to 12.9%. One possible explanation is that the raw numbers in Larimer County are relatively low so even slight deviations equate to higher percentage changes. (See data table)

Nationally, one out of every 30 women who knew they were pregnant report 'risk drinking' (7 or more drinks per week, or 5 or more drinks on any one occasion). Additionally, one in seven women of childbearing age (18 to 44 years) report 'risk drinking'; these alcohol levels can pose a threat to the fetus should a woman be pregnant and not know it (Centers for Disease Control).

What this chart shows: Maternal Tobacco Use at Stages of Pregnancy

Maternal Tobacco Use at Stages of Pregnancy

Data Source: Colorado Health Information Dataset-Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System

See data table

What this chart shows: Maternal Consent to Smoking in a Room with an Infant Present

Maternal Consent to Smoking in a Room with an Infant Present

Data Source: Colorado Health Information Dataset-Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System

See data table

What these data tell us:

During the interview (see above for study method), mothers were asked: 'Did you smoke during the 3 months before you got pregnant?', 'Did you smoke during the last 3 months of your pregnancy?', and 'Do you smoke now (when the survey was completed)?' As of November 2006, national figures for pregnant women who smoke, ages 15 to 44, were 18%, compared with 30% of nonpregnant women who were the same age. In both Colorado and Larimer County, the five year average (2002-2006) of survey respondents who reported smoking while pregnant was 10.4%.

Overall, smoking among females was associated with lower income, younger age (<25 years), having less than or equal to a high school education, and race - smoking was most prevalent in American Indian or Alaskan Native women (Centers for Disease Control).

Colorado mothers completing the PRAMS interview were also asked: 'Is your new baby ever left in a room with someone smoking?' The five-year average for Colorado was 4.5% while that for Larimer County was 5.0%. The percentage of Larimer County mothers who allowed smoking with their baby in the room increased from 2.4% in 2005 to 6.6% in 2006. However, as noted above, the sample size in Larimer County is too small to make this increase significant (See data table).

Numerous studies indicate that smoking by pregnant women, or being regularly exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (secondhand smoke), dramatically increases the risk of health problems both to themselves and their babies. Potential problems include the following: spontaneous abortions, other birth and delivery problems, fetal brain damage, growth retardation/low birth weight, and sudden infant death syndrome (Smoking While Pregnant, Colorado Department of Health and Environment).

Additional Information:

On Compass-

Outside Compass-

Industry Standards or Targets:

Healthy People 2010:

Data Tables:

Maternal Report of Alcohol Use during Pregnancy

Colorado

Number 'Yes'

Colorado Percentage

Larimer County Number 'Yes'

Larimer County Percentage

2002

200

9.5%

8

5.0%

2003

191

8.7%

10

7.0%

2004

187

10.1%

11

7.2%

2005

207

11.1%

12

9.8%

2006

187

11.2%

16

12.9%

See Chart

Maternal Tobacco Use and Pregnancy, 2002-2006 Five-Year Average

 

'Yes'

N

'Yes'

%

'No'

N

'No'

%

Smoking Before Pregnant

 

Colorado

2,315

20.1%

8,008

79.9%

Larimer County

154

23.3%

513

76.7%

Smoking During Pregnancy

 

Colorado

1,320

10.4%

9,083

89.6%

Larimer County

79

10.4%

592

89.6%

Smoking Now (After Pregnancy)

 

Colorado

1,746

14.6%

8,652

85.4%

Larimer County

104

14.8%

567

85.2%

See Chart

Maternal Consent of Smoking in a Room with an Infant Present

Colorado

Number 'Yes'

Colorado Percentage

Larimer County

Number 'Yes'

Larimer County Percentage

2002

130

5.2%

8

6.4%

2003

103

4.6%

6

4.9%

2004

93

4.1%

6

4.7%

2005

88

4.0%

2

2.4%

2006

90

4.3%

7

6.6%

See Chart