Substance use and self-medication during pregnancy and associations with socio-demographic data: A cross-sectional survey

Objective: To identify women vulnerable to substance use and self-medication during pregnancy based on associations with socio-demographic data. Methods: Data were collected in person, with self-developed questionnaires, from pregnant women (n = 422) in Chengdu, China, from July to November 2012. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to reveal associations with socio-demographic parameters. Results: Higher educational background, being employed, and higher educational background of the mother were associated with a 37% [odds ratio (OR): 0.63, 95% CI: 0.45-0.89], 65% (OR: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.13-0.94), and 29% (OR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.53-0.96) less likelihood of alcohol use, respectively. Adverse pregnancy outcome was associated with a 2.13-fold (OR: 2.13, 95% CI: 1.07-4.25) greater likelihood of alcohol use. Young age and higher educational background were associated with an 11% (OR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.81-0.98) and 31% (OR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.49-0.98) less likelihood of cigarette smoking, respectively. Conclusion: Socio-demographic parameters were associated with substance use during pregnancy and warrants targeted health education provided by nurses to pregnant women. Copyright (C) 2015, Chinese Nursing Association. Production and hosting by Elsevier (Singapore) Pte Ltd.