THE EFFECT OF POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE HEALTH BEHAVIOR DURING GESTATION ON PREGNANCY OUTCOME

This study examined the effects of substance use (alcohol, tobacco and /or drugs (cocaine and/or marijuana)) and healthy maternal behavior (p renatal care, prenatal class, vitamins, regular exercise) during gesta tion on pregnancy outcome. Live births from the nationally representat ive 1988 National Maternal and Infant Health Survey were analyzed. Pre gnancy outcomes (infant birth weight, weeks gestation, one and five mi nute Apgar scores, whether or not the infant was transferred to anothe r hospital after delivery and whether or not the infant was rehospital ized) were studied in multiple linear regression and logistic regressi on models. The relationship of the interaction of substance use and he althy behaviors and outcome was studied in all models. It was found th at women engaging in substance use while pregnant were less likely to engage in healthy behavior. However, in general, engaging in healthy b ehaviors had the largest positive effects on outcome for those women w ho engaged in multiple substance use while pregnant. Significant inter actions between healthy and unhealthy behavior were found for birth we ight, weeks gestation and five minute Apgar scores, indicating that en gaging in positive health behavior may help moderate some of the delet erious consequences of substance use during pregnancy.