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Neonatal-Perinatal Health Care Delivery: Epidemiology/Health Services Research

Neonatal-Perinatal Health Care Delivery 3: Epi/HSR Antenatal Exposures and Neonatal Outcomes

757 - Predictors of perinatal cannabis use in Colorado and its association with maternal depression

Saturday, April 29, 2023

3:30 PM – 6:00 PM ET

Poster Number: 757
Publication Number: 757.246

Valerie J. Teano, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States; Blair W. Weikel, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States; Sunah Hwang, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, CO, United States; Erica M.. Wymore, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States; Stephanie L. Bourque, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, CO, United States

Presenting Author(s)

Valerie J. Teano, MD (she/her/hers)

PGY-2
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Aurora, Colorado, United States

Background: With the rapid expansion of cannabis legalization, there has been an increase in widespread use. Despite the potential obstetric and neonatal health complications associated with cannabis exposure, current data demonstrates increasing use during the perinatal period. This highlights the need to better understand the factors associated with use to identify interventions to reduce fetal and infant exposure.

Objective:

Evaluate prevalence and factors of perinatal cannabis use in Colorado, where both recreational and medical cannabis use are legalized.

Determine the association between depression during pregnancy and perinatal cannabis use.

Design/Methods: 2018-2021 Health eMoms longitudinal electronic survey data sent to post-partum individuals, linked to birth certificate data, were analyzed. Chi-square analysis compared sociodemographic characteristics by presence and timing of use (pre-pregnancy, during, and post-pregnancy). Population survey logistic regression models were used to assess the independent relationship between depression during pregnancy, as indicated on the birth certificate, and cannabis use. Self-reported reasons for use were reported during pregnancy and at 12-14 months postpartum and categorized as medical symptoms, stress/anxiety, or recreational.

Results: A weighted sample of 117,812 mothers were analyzed, of whom 22,760 (19.3%) reported cannabis use in the perinatal period. Demographics by use status are demonstrated in Table 1. There were no differences in characteristics by the timing of use (Table 1b). Perinatal use varied by education, marital status, and parity (Table 2). While most reported use for medical and/or stress/anxiety indications, 23-24.3% reported recreational use (Table 3). In the adjusted analysis, those with depression were 2.24 times more likely to report perinatal use than those without depression (95% CI: 1.52, 3.29).

Conclusion(s):

Self-reported perinatal cannabis use is common in this population-level study. Perinatal depression is significantly associated with use, illustrating the urgent need for comprehensive maternal mental health screening and treatment. Self-reported medical and mental health-related reasons for cannabis use highlight the need for therapeutic evidence-based modalities to support pregnant individuals with these conditions. Additional evaluation of factors associated with perinatal cannabis use may help direct healthcare and community-level interventions to reduce use.