Women's health issues : official publication of the Jacobs Institute of Women's Health
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Womens Health Issues · May 2020
Perceptions, Characteristics, and Behaviors of Cigarette and Electronic Cigarette Use among Pregnant Smokers.
Smoking during pregnancy is a primary risk factor for adverse perinatal outcomes. Although electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use has increased, reasons for and behaviors of use are not fully understood. The purpose of this study, composed exclusively of pregnant current smokers, was to describe perceptions of health risks associated with e-cigarette use among pregnant women, describe the use patterns of pregnant dual users (defined as those who simultaneously use conventional/combustible cigarettes and e-cigarettes), and examine smoking-related behaviors between conventional-only (defined as those smoking combustible cigarettes but not e-cigarettes) and dual users. ⋯ Characterizing perceptions and behaviors of e-cigarette use during pregnancy is foundational for future research to explore the association between product use and maternal and infant outcomes.