Abstract
Objective
High-risk behaviours are associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Exposure to drugs, infection or radiation is a cause of concern for pregnant women,
who contact Teratology Information Services (TIS) to have a counseling but with an
accurate medical history is possible to detect additional behavioural risk factors
that can significantly interfere with pregnancy outcome.
The aim of this study is to describe risk behaviours in a population of Italian women
calling our TIS and to identify related maternal factors.
Study design
Between December 2008 and January 2010 we collected data from 503 pregnant women calling
our TIS (Telefono Rosso, Rome). We investigated about smoke, alcohol and abuse substances
addiction and we also collected demographic data.
Results
Of the 503 women consenting to participate 34% were found to have an additional risk
marker during the current pregnancy. Within this group were 22.7% (n = 119) who reported smoking, the 17.7% (n = 89) admitted to drink and 2 women (0.4%) used illicit drugs. In 13.7% of cases (n = 69) reason for calling represented an exposure to teratogenic agents. Unmarried status
and previous induced abortion represent a risk factor for all high-risk behaviours.
Lower education (p < 0.001) and use of neurological drugs (p < 0.001) are related with cigarette consumption. A lower parity was a risk factor for
alcohol assumption (p = 0.04). Women with high-risk behaviours tend to be exposed to more than a risk factor.
Conclusions
Teratogen Information Services are an important system to identify women with pregnancy
risk markers. These services should have the ability to provide risk reduction information
to women who smoke cigarettes or with alcohol or drug use. In addition to the phone
based information these women may benefit from referral back to their physician for
assessment and management of substance use/abuse during pregnancy. Substance abuse
risks are often underestimated by pregnant women. Single mothers or women with an
history of terminations of pregnancy represents an high-risk population. Physicians
should inform their patients about possible risks related to high-risk behaviours
during preconception counseling or during the first obstetric visit.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 01, 2011
Accepted:
July 11,
2011
Received in revised form:
June 27,
2011
Received:
April 4,
2011
Identification
Copyright
© 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
