Family history of alcohol use as predictor of alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy

Because alcohol and tobacco use are known teratogenic substances that negatively affect the fetus, screening for alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy is included as part of the nursing standard of care in obstetrical nursing (and some screening tools include family history as a risk factor for use during pregnancy. However, the only empirical evidence for including family history as a risk factor is located in the general addictions literature. The purpose of this study was to determine if parental history of alcohol and/or tobacco use increases the risk for use of these substances during pregnancy. This was a descriptive retrospective study based on the epidemiological model of risk. Mothers in the third month of pregnancy provided self-reported data on their use of alcohol and tobacco during pregnancy and their parents' lifetime use of these substances. Maternal history of alcohol use increased the odds of tobacco use during pregnancy (OR = 4.02, CI 1.732-9.343). Maternal family history of alcohol and tobacco use had a greater impact on increasing the odds for alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy than paternal history of alcohol and tobacco use.