Knowledge and Attitudes About Perinatal Marijuana Use Among US Postpartum Mothers: A Better Outcomes Through Research for Newborns Network Study.

OBJECTIVE

Perinatal marijuana use is common and may be perceived as safer than use of other substances. We evaluated the association between health care provider counseling and maternal marijuana knowledge.

METHODS

This multi-state, cross-sectional study was conducted June 2021 to August 2022 at 15 US hospitals in the Better Outcomes through Research for Newborns (BORN) network. A 48-item investigator-developed survey was administered to a convenience sample of postpartum mothers≥21 years giving birth to a newborn≥34 weeks' gestational age and receiving routine mother-baby care. The survey assessed sociodemographics, marijuana use, attitudes and knowledge, and receipt of pre- or post-natal health care provider counseling about perinatal marijuana use. Descriptive statistics were tabulated, and key comparisons were tested using Chi-square analysis and multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS

Of 484 postpartum mothers, 59.9% endorsed any lifetime marijuana use, while 9.3% reported use during the current pregnancy. Almost 40% reported that in their experience, marijuana use among mothers who are breastfeeding is common or somewhat common. One-third of participants reported receiving any health care provider counseling about marijuana either prenatally or postpartum. Adjusting for covariates, counseling was associated with greater maternal knowledge about risks of perinatal marijuana use to exposed children, including child learning problems (adjusted odds ratio 1.93 [95% confidence interval: 1.13, 3.29]).

CONCLUSIONS

A strengthened and standardized approach to health care provider counseling may help to address maternal knowledge gaps about the risks of perinatal marijuana use on exposed newborns and children.