Document Type
Other
Publication Date
2025
Abstract
This study examines data reported from SD PRAMS during the years 2018 to 2022 to understand the relationship between demographic and health factors and marijuana use before and during pregnancy. As the use of marijuana increased in the general population within the last few years, it also increased among women of childbearing age, both pregnant and not pregnant (Alshaarawy & Anthony 2019) (NIDA, 2023). The SD PRAMS questionnaire included questions on health care utilization, substance use, mental health, pregnancy-related care, and other related topics. We controlled for responses relating to demographic factors such as race, age, marital status, living in a rural or nonrural area, amount of education received, and income. For health factors, we controlled for smoking status during pregnancy, depression during pregnancy, and prenatal care attendance in the first trimester. We correlated the demographic and health factors to marijuana use before and during pregnancy. The sociodemographic categories that show the highest use of marijuana before and during pregnancy are 19 years-old and younger, reported their race as American Indian, live in a rural area, are not married, received less than a full high school education, and have a household income of $16,000 or less. Future studies should consider taking a closer look at some of the characteristics that are more likely to use marijuana around the time of pregnancy, see if there are reasons why those specific groups are more likely to use marijuana, and study whether the necessary resources are being provided to those groups of mothers. Making sure mothers and their babies are healthy is a high priority in health care so this research can aid policymakers, providers, and mothers in making educated decisions and provide quality support to those that need it.
Publisher
South Dakota State University
Rights
Copyright © 2025 Grace Schroeder
Recommended Citation
Schroeder, Grace, "Marijuana Use and The Health of The Mother: Factors Relating to Marijuana Use Around Pregnancy" (2025). Schultz-Werth Award Papers. 49.
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/schultz-werth/49
