Pregnant individual’s lived experience of cannabis use during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study
1Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA, United States
2Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
3Sacramento Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Sacramento CA, United States
4Regional Offices, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland CA, United States
*Correspondence: Kelly C. Young-Wolff, Kelly.c.young-wolff@kp.orgAbstract
Introduction
Quantitative studies indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to increased rates of prenatal cannabis use. However, little is known about how the pandemic has impacted cannabis use from the perspective of pregnant individuals themselves. Our objective was to characterize COVID-19-related changes in cannabis use among pregnant individuals who used cannabis during the pandemic.
Methods
We conducted 18 focus groups (from 11/17/2021 to 12/17/2021) with Black and White pregnant individuals aged 18+ who self-reported prenatal cannabis use during universal screening at entrance to prenatal care (at ~8 weeks gestation) in Kaiser Permanente Northern California. Virtual focus groups were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis.
Results
The sample of 53 pregnant individuals (23 Black, 30 White) was 30.3 years old (SD = 5.2) on average, and most (70%) self-reported daily versus weekly or monthly prenatal cannabis use. Major themes regarding the impact of the pandemic on cannabis use included increases in use (resulting from depression, anxiety, stress, boredom), and changes in social use (less sharing of smoked cannabis products), modes of use (from smoking to other modes due to respiratory concerns) and source (from storefront retailers to delivery).
Conclusion
Coping with mental health symptoms and stress were identified drivers of perceived pandemic-related increases in prenatal cannabis use in 2021. Pregnant individuals adapted their use in ways consistent with public health recommendations to decrease social contact and reduce or quit smoking to mitigate COVID-19 transmission and harms. Proactive, mental health outreach for pregnant individuals during future pandemic waves may reduce prenatal cannabis use.
1.Introduction
Cannabis is the most commonly used federally illicit substance during pregnancy, and the prevalence and frequency of prenatal cannabis use have increased in recent years (1, 2). Epidemiologic studies have found that prenatal cannabis use is elevated among pregnant individuals with diagnoses of nausea and vomiting, depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, and trauma (3, 4). Existing qualitative studies indicate that pregnant individuals self-report using cannabis as a way to cope with medical and mental health symptoms, including pain, sleep problems, morning sickness, stress and depressed mood (5–7). Rising rates of prenatal cannabis use are a significant public health problem (1, 2, 8, 9). Cannabis use during pregnancy is associated with potential health risks, including low birthweight and potential neurodevelopmental problems for offspring exposed in utero (10–14).
The COVID-19 pandemic, which started in the Spring of 2020, has resulted in increased psychological distress, depression, and substance use among US adults (15–19). Pregnant individuals have faced unique pandemic-related challenges, including major changes to prenatal care, difficulty obtaining childcare, and concerns about the impact of COVID-19 on their pregnancy (20–24). Recent research suggests that rates of cannabis use during pregnancy have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic (25), and pregnant individuals may be using cannabis in an attempt to cope with pandemic-related mental health symptoms. However, qualitative studies that highlight how the pandemic has impacted prenatal cannabis use from the perspective of pregnant individuals themselves are lacking.
To address this gap in the literature, we conducted focus groups at the end of 2021 with Black and White pregnant individuals who self-reported cannabis use during early pregnancy in California, where cannabis is fully legal for adults over the age of 21. Results from these focus groups allow us to understand the impact of the pandemic on individuals with lived experience of prenatal cannabis use.
2.Materials and methods
The study took place in Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC)’s large multispecialty healthcare system serving >4.5 million diverse members (26), and was approved by the KPNC Institutional Review Board. English-speaking pregnant adults aged ≥18 who self-reported non-Hispanic Black or non-Hispanic White race/ethnicity in the electronic health record and self-reported any cannabis use since pregnancy on the self-administered Prenatal Screening Questionnaire as part of universal screening done at entrance to prenatal care (at ~8 weeks gestation) were eligible; those who used daily or weekly were prioritized for recruitment. For this initial study we selected pregnant individuals who were non-Hispanic Black or non-Hispanic White because they constitute the racial/ethnic groups with the highest prevalence of prenatal cannabis use in our healthcare system (27). We did not utilize electronic health record data on prenatal cannabis use based on routine urine toxicology testing done at entrance to prenatal care because we wanted to recruit participants who were willing to self-disclose prenatal cannabis use and would be more likely to feel comfortable discussing this topic in a focus group setting.
After conducting chart reviews to confirm that the patient had no documented pregnancy loss, patients were sent an email with information about the study and an option to opt out. Potential participants were then contacted by phone and provided verbal informed consent to participate in this study. The KPNC IRB waived the requirement to obtain signed consent as the research presented no more than minimal risk of harms to participants and involves no procedures for which written consent is normally required outside of the research context. Patients were informed that participation in the study would be confidential and would not impact their clinical care. During recruitment, patients were asked if they were still using cannabis and if not, the date when they stopped using.
We developed a semi-structured focus group script that included multiple domains, including reasons for prenatal cannabis use, perceived harms, changes in use during pregnancy, and communications with clinicians about prenatal cannabis use. Participants were asked whether they think pregnant women are more likely to use cannabis now than they were 5 years ago and why or why not. Interview probes included the COVID-19 pandemic and individuals could respond about what they have seen among pregnant individuals in general or respond about their own cannabis use behaviors (Supplement). The semi-structured format and allowed for new themes to emerge. HIPAA-compliant virtual focus groups took place via video-conferencing software (Microsoft Teams) from 11/17/2021 to 12/17/2021. Participants were encouraged, but not required, to have their cameras on during the focus group. We chose to match focus group leaders and participants on race, with recognition that people with shared experiences may be more open with each other (28, 29), and to acknowledge the role that race/ethnicity plays in the experiences of pregnant individuals. Individuals received a $50 gift card for participating. The study team had weekly meetings to review field notes and to discuss emerging themes. After 18 groups, thematic saturation was achieved. Focus groups were recorded and professionally transcribed. Video and audio were deleted after transcription was completed.
A thematic analysis approach was used to analyze the transcripts. First, three members of the team (KYW, TF, AA) created a codebook after reviewing all transcripts. Next, study team members (KYW, TF, AA, EI, MD) independently coded two transcripts, and the team further refined the code book to reach consensus on themes and subthemes. The remaining 16 focus groups were manually coded by the study team using NVivo Qualitative Analysis Software (Release 1.6.1). Quotes related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic were selected for this study and transcripts were compared for potential differences in responses by participant race. Additional details about the focus group methods appear elsewhere (30).
Descriptive statistics (frequencies, proportions, means) were used to summarize patient socio-demographics, frequency of prenatal cannabis use, whether participants had quit using cannabis at the time of recruitment, and trimester participants quit using cannabis among those who had stopped using.
3.Results
Of 304 eligible patients, 139 were unable to be reached, 53 refused, 2 were found to be ineligible, 5 had time conflicts, and 1 did not complete the consent process. Of the 104 individuals who were scheduled for a focus group, 51 did not participate (39 did not show up, 10 canceled, and 2 had groups that were canceled by the group leader) and 53 participated in one of 18 focus groups, including 23 Black individuals and 30 White individuals. The average length of the 18 focus groups was 73.4 min (range 42–92 min) and the number of participants in a focus group ranged from one to six.
Descriptive information is provided in Table 1. The sample (n = 53) had a mean age of 30.3 (SD = 5.2) years, 17.0% were in their first trimester, 47.2% were in their second trimester, and 35.8% were in their third trimester at the time of recruitment. At entrance to prenatal care, 69.8% self-reported daily cannabis use and 30.2% reported weekly or monthly or less cannabis use since pregnancy. The median (interquartile range) time from the first prenatal visit to the phone screening was 15.1 weeks (7.6–21.7). Most (69.8%) reported that they had quit using cannabis at the time of study recruitment. Of those who quit, 83.8% quit in the first trimester and 16.2% quit during the second or third trimester.
| Participant characteristics | N | % |
|---|---|---|
| Age categories | ||
| 21–25 | 11 | 20.8 |
| 26–30 | 19 | 35.8 |
| 31–35 | 13 | 24.5 |
| 36–40 | 10 | 18.9 |
| Race | ||
| Black | 23 | 43.4 |
| White | 30 | 56.6 |
| Trimester at phone screening | ||
| 1st | 9 | 17.0 |
| 2nd | 25 | 47.2 |
| 3rd | 19 | 35.8 |
| Frequency of self-reported cannabis use during pregnancy | ||
| Daily | 37 | 69.8 |
| Weekly/Monthly | 16 | 30.2 |
| Trimester the participant stopped using cannabis | ||
| 1st | 31 | 58.5 |
| 2nd or 3rd | 6 | 11.3 |
| N/A – still using | 16 | 30.2 |
We identified six themes related to the COVID-19 pandemic in the following two domains: (1) Impact of mental health and isolation/boredom on cannabis use during the pandemic, and (2) Changes in specific cannabis-related behaviors. Themes were consistent across focus groups with Black and White participants, although comparatively fewer Black participants discussed the impact of the pandemic than did White participants.
4.Discussion
This timely focus group study characterizes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cannabis use from the perspective of pregnant individuals who used cannabis during early pregnancy. Participants generally perceived that pregnant individuals are more likely to use cannabis during the pandemic, primarily driven by increases in anxiety, depression, isolation and boredom. Participants identified cannabis use as a coping mechanism and described how pandemic-related increases in prenatal cannabis use corresponded directly with changes in pandemic-related stress. Similar increases in cannabis use as a result of coping with COVID-19-related emotional and psychological distress have been found in qualitative studies of other vulnerable populations, including young adults (31), and our findings complement prior research showing that pregnant individuals report using cannabis to cope with medical and mental health symptoms during pregnancy (5–7).
Prior studies have shown that the pandemic has had a major impact on pregnant individuals, resulting in increases in depression, anxiety, loneliness, COVID-19-specific worries related to the potential health effects of the COVID-19 on their pregnancy, and concerns about changes to prenatal care (e.g., lack of a support person during delivery) (21, 22, 32). Studies examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on substance use during pregnancy have found that depression symptoms and financial difficulties are associated with a higher likelihood of cannabis use and polysubstance use during pregnancy (33). Recent electronic health record data have documented an increase in rates of prenatal cannabis use from before to during the pandemic (25), and findings from this focus group study provide insights into the potential mechanisms underlying pandemic-related increases in cannabis use during pregnancy.
Importantly, for some, the COVID-19 pandemic had little impact on their likelihood of using cannabis, and for others the isolation of the pandemic provided an ideal respite from common risk factors/triggers for cannabis use (e.g., seeing others smoke). Importantly, some patients felt that their cannabis use behaviors during pregnancy were not impacted because they were not pregnant until later in the pandemic. This perception aligns with research indicating that frequency of cannabis use and self-reported mental distress among US adults increased during the early months of the pandemic and then returned to baseline levels (34). While the study took place more than one and a half years into the pandemic (November and December 2021), the WHO designated the COVID-19 Omicron variant as a “variant of concern” on November 26, 2021, due to increased transmissibility (35), and the potential for another surge. Yet, many participants spoke about the pandemic in the past-tense, or described getting pregnancy after the pandemic, suggesting that most felt like the greatest impacts of the pandemic were behind them. Participants tended to report on COVID-19 related changes in patterns of or reasons for prenatal cannabis use that are applicable to other populations (e.g., stress-related increases in use), rather than on pregnancy-specific impacts (e.g., concerns about potential impacts of COVID-19 on the fetus). It is possible that individuals who were pregnant earlier during the pandemic may have had different experiences and potentially more responses specifically relating to the interaction of the pandemic and pregnancy.
Our findings also highlight how pregnant individuals who used cannabis early in pregnancy adapted their cannabis use behaviors to reduce potential harms, by not sharing cannabis smoked products, switching to non-smoked modes of administration, and changing to delivery vs. entering storefront retailers. These changes in cannabis-related behaviors are consistent with other research in non-pregnant populations (36), and support the notion that pregnant individuals are motivated to live healthier lifestyles to improve the health of their developing child.
4.1.Limitations
This study has several limitations. Our sample included pregnant non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic White individuals in KPNC, and nearly all reported self-reported daily or weekly (versus less frequent) cannabis use during early pregnancy. Future studies with participants of other racial/ethnic groups, uninsured individuals, and those with less frequent cannabis use during pregnancy, and those living in states where cannabis is not legal are needed to better understand pregnant individual’s perspectives of how the pandemic impacted cannabis use. In addition, consistent with studies showing that cannabis use is highest among pregnant individuals during the first trimester, most participants in our sample reported that they had quit using cannabis at the time of study recruitment, and we are unable to determine whether their self-reported use since pregnancy was only prior to pregnancy recognition. Additional studies are needed to understand the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic impacted whether pregnant individuals quit or continued cannabis use during pregnancy. Finally, individuals who were willing to participate in the focus group study may have unique perspectives that may not generalize to those who were eligible but were unreachable or chose not to participate; however, we note that focus group studies are not meant to be generalizable and are intended to be hypothesis generating.
5.Conclusion
The current study adds novel qualitative data suggesting that increased depression, anxiety, isolation and boredom are perceived drivers of pandemic-related increases in prenatal cannabis use. Results highlight the need for strategies and programs that combat these issues to potentially decrease prenatal cannabis use and increase positive coping. Most pregnant individuals have regular contact with a healthcare system, even during the COVID-19 pandemic, and clinicians and healthcare systems can help to support pregnant individuals by providing non-judgmental information about the health effects of prenatal cannabis use, taking time to understand reasons for cannabis use, and linking pregnant patients with resources tailored to their specific needs. Further, early comprehensive, and routine screening for prenatal anxiety and depression during the pandemic, along with linkage to resources and interventions, may hold promise for helping pregnant individuals cope with the significant mental health impacts of the pandemic in ways that do not involve cannabis use. Finally, results underscore the impact of social distancing on pregnant women, and suggest that group-based prenatal care, and public health interventions that offer suggestions and strategies for combatting isolation in future pandemic waves may be particularly beneficial.
Data availability statement
The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/supplementary material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.
Ethics statement
The studies involving human participants were reviewed and approved by The Kaiser Permanente Northern California Institutional Review Board. Patients provided verbal consent and the ethics committee waived the requirement of written consent for participants.
Funding
This study was supported by a NIH NIDA K01 Award (DA043604), a KPNC Health Equity Supplement, and The Permanente Medical Group (TPMG) Delivery Science Fellowship Program.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Publisher’s note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Acknowledgements
The funding sources were not involved in data collection, analysis, interpretation, writing or decision to submit the manuscript for publication. We acknowledge Agatha Hinman for her editorial assistance. This study would not have been possible without the contributions of the many pregnant individuals who generously shared their time and perspectives.