Impact of Smoking During Pregnancy - Assignment Example

 Introduction: Common knowledge has indicated that there is a direct link between the overall health of an unborn child and whether or not the mother smokes during pregnancy. Reflection of this common knowledge is of course seen with respect to the way in which the Surgeon General of the United States has warned for decades with respect to the negative ramifications, low birth rate, potential deformities, and other issues relating to smoking during pregnancy; going so far as to label cigarette packages with this warning and providing an even further concern for individuals that smoke, might become pregnant, or are currently pregnant. Yet, even though it is widely understood that tobacco products, specifically smoking them, can create negative impacts upon a pregnancy, relatively little inquiry has been devoted towards the impacts of smoking marijuana during pregnancy. For purposes of this particular study, the analysts sought to measure these two against one another; utilizing a series of metrics as a function of accomplishing such a goal. Problem Investigated: As denoted above, the problem investigated was contingent upon the potential harm that smoking of either tobacco products or marijuana during pregnancy could affect. Likewise, the core problems investigated was with regard to how tobacco and/or marijuana usage during pregnancy impacted upon gestation, growth, and morphology. By seeking to draw inference on these core issues, the researchers pre-supposed that a greater level of understanding concerning the impacts of smoking either of these substances during pregnancy could be compared to existing research; assisting in the creation of a more baseline understanding of the negative of neutral health effects that such a practice entails. The problem is of extreme importance as health care professionals are faced with the negative impacts of such issues each and every day and need verifiable measurements and statistics that they can use to warn their patients. Purpose of the Study: The underlying purpose of the study is to of course provide more identifiable metrics with respect to the negative health impacts that smoking either marijuana for tobacco products during pregnancy can affect. Ultimately, even though it is a widely understood medical fact that there are negative ramifications to such a process, and identification and measurement of these ramifications is not thoroughly represented throughout the literature; thereby creating a need for further analysis and understanding concerning the differentials between these practices and those of others that are otherwise health-conscious and do not engage in such behavior. Furthermore, the authors also indicated that the persons of the study expanded to the way in which potential future medical practitioners could understand the results as a means of engaging with and treating the symptoms suffered from children that experienced tobacco products or marijuana smoke during pregnancy. Questions and Hypothesis: The questions and hypothesis for the research were concentric upon whether or not marijuana and tobacco had similar effects with respect to the metrics indicated upon. The belief of the analysts was that even though some variation between groups would likely be represented, the underlying trends would largely mirror one another with regard to gestation period, size, weight, and other health issues. Method Description: The methodology for this particular study was conducted by drawing the population to be analyzed from prenatal clinics within Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. These individuals were analyzed at mid pregnancy as well as delivery as a function of obtaining relevant information concerning tobacco or marijuana usage. Likewise, the infants were also examined both at 24 and 36 hours after birth. Through such a level of analysis, the scholars sought to determine what potential differentials might exist with respect to this test group as compared to a control group that had clearly and definitively not utilize tobacco or marijuana products during pregnancy. A total of 317 test subjects were included in the study; in the hopes that such a large sample size would allow for a more acute level of understanding with respect to the differentials in health impacts that both marijuana and tobacco had on the outcome for prenatal and post-delivery health of the infant. Description of Instruments Used: In terms of the instrumentation that was utilized, this was no different than the instrumentation that would be utilized in any delivery room as a function of recording weight, size, and overall health of the newborn infants. Accordingly, as compared to many other studies where in depth instrumentation and expensive laboratory analysis is required, the analysis that was conducted in based upon the instrumentation for this particular study was relatively limited and provided a simplicity of analysis that in turn benefited the overall rigor of the assessment. Results: Not surprisingly, the results indicated the fact that the overall birth measurements and health that were exhibited amongst the test group that had admitted to multiple uses of marijuana or tobacco during pregnancy were much lower as compared to those that did not. This tracked alongside the hypothesis and confirmed the expectation that even though the two drugs acted in different ways upon the mental and physical health of the patient, the end result to the child, at least in terms of visible and measurable birth statistics, tracked nearly identically. These results have been taken as a case in point by further research that has also sought to create a level of further understanding concerning the negative impacts and long term prenatal health issues pertaining to marijuana and tobacco usage during pregnancy. Data Analysis: The analysis for the data was corroborated with several different researchers and a clear and definitive methodology for analyzing it based against the test group was determined. As a large population was under consideration, a large control, that comprised many racial and ethnic differentials, was required. This was performed as a means of not allowing lower birthrates within a specific ethnic group skew the results of the study and provide for a misunderstood application of the ultimate results of the test. Findings: The findings indicated that the average maternal age was approximately 16; with most of the mother’s analyze falling into an adolescent group comprised of individuals from 12 to 18 years of age). Furthermore, 70% of these individuals were of an African-American ethnicity. Whereas prenatal tobacco usage was associated with reduced birthrate, chest circumference, head size, length, and other factors were also directly affected. Comparatively, even as prenatal marijuana exposure created decreases in the overall birthrate, head size, chest circumference, and other measurements, prenatal marijuana exposure was most definitively related to reduced gestational age. Additionally, among individuals of a Caucasian ethnicity, birth defects from marijuana usage within the first trimester were noted to a higher degree as compared to any other ethnic group. Limitations – Strengths and Weaknesses: A key limitation that existed within the study in question has to do with the fact that only the area in and around Pittsburgh Pennsylvania was analyzed. Furthermore, with fully 70% of all respondents being African-American, the representativeness of this particular study does not track particularly well with the overall ethnic makeup that is exhibited elsewhere throughout the United States. Finally, even though some discussion was indicated with respect to the way in which a control group was assessed, the focus upon how this was accomplished was diminished; in the desire to place a further emphasis upon how the test group function and what results were ultimately achieved. Similarly, a noted strength with respect to the study is contingent upon the fact that the analysts shows a significantly large test group as a function of performing the analysis. All too often, medical analysis is performed on a relatively limited scale and a full sampling of a given population is not actually achieved. However, due to the fact that the given case study was able to exhibit over 300 individuals falling within the demographic constraints that had been defined, the potential for the utilization of this study with further medical research, at least within the Pittsburgh area, is drastically increased. Conclusion: From the information that has thus far been provided, it is clear and apparent that the study in question provides a useful and insightful review of the impacts of prenatal tobacco and marijuana usage within adolescent populations. Furthermore, even though the unit of focus for the analysis was contingent upon the adolescent population, broad and overarching trends with respect to how researchers can understand tobacco and marijuana usage within the general population, in terms of prenatal impact, are also relevant. Essentially, the article provides a baseline of understanding with respect to the similarities and differences between tobacco usage and marijuana usage. Whereas separate and distinct studies have been conducted concerning this issue, there is a lack of scholarship that have sought to compare the two and analyze key differentials that might exist between them. This has a powerful and meaningful impact with regards the way in which further research is conducted and the manner by which healthcare professionals understand the similarities and differences of impact that both of these substances have upon the prenatal health and outcome of individuals exposed to them. Reference Cornelius, M. D., & Taylor, P. M. (1995). Prenatal tobacco and marijuana use among adolescents: Effects on offspring gestational age.. Pediatrics, 95(5), 738. Read More