Trends and Correlates of Cigarette, Electronic Cigarette, and Hookah Use Among Women of Childbearing Age in U.S. Health and Human Services Regions: Insights from PRAMS Phase 8 (2016–2022).
This work has been published in the Maternal and Child Health Journal, a Q1-ranked journal, underscoring the quality and impact of the research.
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Notably, this publication marks an important milestone in student scholarship at AUA, representing the first Q1 journal paper authored by two AUA students as first and second authors.
ABSTRACT
Objectives The study aimed to analyze the prevalence, trends, and sociodemographic factors associated with the use of conventional cigarettes (CCs), electronic cigarettes (ECs), hookahs, or polytobacco products (PTPs) among women of child-bearing age.Methods The U.S. Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System Phase 8 (2016‒2022) surveys women who have recently given birth on various tobacco products during the preceding two years. The study included 228,353 women (weighted count: 11,656,616), comparing exclusive CC, EC, and hookah users to non-users. Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs). Tobacco use preferences in the Health and Human Services regions were mapped.Results Approximately 21.5% of respondents reported tobacco product use, with CC (11.7%) widely prevalent. Trends showed a decline in CC and PTP use alongside increased EC use. CC users were defined by low-income (AOR:2.2; 95%CI:2.0‒2.4) and low-education (AOR:1.6; 95%CI:1.5‒1.7). Significant correlates for EC use were the survey year 2022 (AOR:5.8; 95%CI:4.5–7.6) and age under 20 (AOR:3.5; 95%CI:2.8–4.4). Hookah use was higher among Blacks (AOR:8.3; 95%CI:7.2–9.5) and Hispanics (AOR:4.6; 95%CI:4.0–5.3). PTP use correlated with low income (AOR:1.9; 95%CI:1.7–2.1) and young age (AOR:1.3; 95%CI:1.2–1.4). Variations within the U.S. were noted, with a high prevalence of hookahs in New York and Philadelphia and CC and PTP in Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, and the Kansas City regions.Conclusions for practice The findings underscore the need for targeted pre-pregnancy counseling based on sociodemo-graphic and regional correlates. Public health strategies should incorporate ECs and hookahs into pre-pregnancy and prenatal care counseling.
Authors:
Ricci Bonilla Camacho, Roohan Nistar, Rathika Damedara Shenoy, Juan M.Acuña
Citation
Bonilla Camacho R, Nistar R, Shenoy RD, Acuña JM. Trends and Correlates of Cigarette, Electronic Cigarette, and Hookah Use Among Women of Childbearing Age in the U.S. Health and Human Services Regions: Insights from PRAMS Phase 8 (2016–2022) Data. Maternal and Child Health Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-025-04209-0
This project also served as a pilot for analyzing large, high-impact public health datasets, helping establish a scalable research model for future student scholarship initiatives. With the research center now fully staffed, this work supports continued growth in student-led research at AUA.
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