Am J Perinatol
DOI: 10.1055/a-2145-7775
Original Article

Perinatal Cannabis Use and Cannabis Use during Breastfeeding: the Role of Health Care Workers

Devika Bhatia 
1   Department of Psychiatry, Colorado School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
,
Sophie Rosenberg
2   Department of Community and Behavioral Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
,
Rebecca Rees
3   Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver, Colorado
,
Ashley Brooks-Russell
2   Department of Community and Behavioral Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
› Author Affiliations Funding D.B. was supported by postdoctoral training (grant no.: T32 MH015442).
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Abstract

Objective This study aimed to estimate the proportion of perinatal women reporting a health care worker (HCW) discussed cannabis use during pregnancy or breastfeeding with them and to evaluate the association between HCWs' discussions and perinatal cannabis use and cannabis use while breastfeeding.

Study Design Data from Health eMoms (a longitudinal, state-representative survey of Colorado mothers, collected from 2018 to 2020 [n = 3,193]) were utilized in logistic regressions assessing the relationship between HCW discussions about cannabis and perinatal cannabis use and cannabis use while breastfeeding at two time points postpartum, adjusting for sociodemographic factors.

Results A total of 5.8% of the sample reported cannabis use either during their most recent pregnancy or while breastfeeding at 3 to 6 months' postpartum. A total of 67.8% of the sample reported an HCW-discussed cannabis at prenatal visits. Women reporting perinatal use were more likely to report HCW discussing cannabis compared with nonusers (82.2 vs. 65.3%, p < 0.01). There was not a significant association between HCW discussions and cannabis use while breastfeeding at either time point postpartum. Compared with nonusers, women using perinatally were more likely to report cannabis Web sites (28.9 vs. 6.5%), cannabis stores (15.7 vs. 3.8%), or word-of-mouth (28.4 vs. 17.1%) as trusted sources of cannabis-related information.

Conclusion HCW discussions about cannabis use during pregnancy or breastfeeding are not universally reported. This study highlights the need for further encouragement of universal HCW discussions of cannabis use during pregnancy and breastfeeding, strengthening of messaging around cannabis use during these periods, and improved delivery of reliable cannabis-related health information to this population.

Key Points

  • HCW discussions of perinatal cannabis use are not universally reported by women.

  • Women reporting perinatal use were more likely to report HCW discussions of cannabis.

  • Women reporting perinatal cannabis use were more likely to trust word-of-mouth or cannabis stores or Web sites.

Keywords

cannabis - breastfeeding - pregnancy - health care worker - longitudinal - epidemiology

Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 09 January 2023

Accepted: 31 July 2023

Accepted Manuscript online:
01 August 2023

Article published online:
15 September 2023

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