Betel quid chewing and risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes among aboriginesin Southern Taiwan

It is known that substance use is associated with increased risk of adverse pregnancy, outcomes. The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalenc e of alcohol, cigarette, betel quid and drug use during pregnancy and to as sess the risk of adverse effects of betel quid chewing on pregnancy outcome s in aboriginal women in southern Taiwan. The study population included 62 women with adverse pregnancy outcomes and 124 age-matched women. Subjects w ere interviewed at their homes by trained interviewers using a structure qu estionnaire. Prevalences of various substance use in aborigines with advers e pregnancy outcomes were estimated as follows: alcohol, 43.6%; smoking, 14 .5%; betel quid chewing, 43.6% and over-the-counter drug use, 8.1%; whereas in the comparison group it was alcohol, 38.7%; smoking, 8.1%; betel quid c hewing, 28.2% and none used drugs. Univariate analysis revealed that advers e pregnancy outcomes were associated with maternal betel quid chewing, mate rnal illness during pregnancy, and the number of pregnancies (gravidity) ex perienced. After adjusting for maternal illness and number of previous preg nancies covariates, the prevalence of adverse pregnancy outcome was compute d to be 2.8-fold higher among betel quid chewing women as compared to non-c hewers (AOR = 2.8, 95% CI = 1.2-6.8). Among the aboriginal women, prenatal care is essential not only for routine care, but also to focus health educa tion on the harmful effects of substance use, especially betel quid use dur ing pregnancy.