Tobacco, nicotine, and cannabis use and exposure in an Australian Indigenous population during pregnancy: A protocol to measure parental and foetal exposure and outcomes
Authors: Ratsch Angela , Burmeister Elizabeth A. , Bird Aunty Veronica , Bonner Aunty Joyce , Miller Uncle Glen , Speedy Aunty Marj , Douglas Graham , Ober Stevan , Woolcock Ann , Blair (nee Murdoch) Sharly , Weng Min-Tz , Miles Jared A. , Steadman Kathryn J. 
Published: March 2024

Background

The Australian National Perinatal Data Collection collates all live and stillbirths from States and Territories in Australia. In that database, maternal cigarette smoking is noted twice (smoking <20 weeks gestation; smoking >20 weeks gestation). Cannabis use and other forms of nicotine use, for example vaping and nicotine replacement therapy, are nor reported. The 2021 report shows the rate of smoking for Australian Indigenous mothers was 42% compared with 11% for Australian non-Indigenous mothers. Evidence shows that Indigenous babies exposed to maternal smoking have a higher rate of adverse outcomes compared to non-Indigenous babies exposed to maternal smoking.

Objectives

The reasons for the differences in health outcome between Indigenous and non-Indigenous pregnancies exposed to tobacco and nicotine is unknown but will be explored in this project through a number of activities. Firstly, the patterns of parental and household tobacco, nicotine and cannabis use and exposure will be mapped during pregnancy. Secondly, a range of biological samples will be collected to enable the first determination of Australian Indigenous people’s nicotine and cannabis metabolism during pregnancy; this assessment will be informed by pharmacogenomic analysis. Thirdly, the pharmacokinetic and pharmacogenomic findings will be considered against maternal, placental, foetal and neonatal outcomes. Lastly, an assessment of population health literacy and risk perception related to tobacco, nicotine and cannabis products peri-pregnancy will be undertaken.

Methods

This is a community-driven, co-designed, prospective, mixed-method observational study with regional Queensland parents expecting an Australian Indigenous baby and their close house-hold contacts during the peri-gestational period. The research utilises a multi-pronged and multi-disciplinary approach to explore interlinked objectives.

Results

A sample of 80 mothers expecting an Australian Indigenous baby will be recruited. This sample size will allow estimation of at least 90% sensitivity and specificity for the screening tool which maps the patterns of tobacco and nicotine use and exposure versus urinary cotinine with 95% CI within ±7% of the point estimate. The sample size required for other aspects of the research is less (pharmacokinetic and genomic n=50, and the placental aspects n=40), however from all 80 mothers, all samples will be collected.

Conclusions

Results will be reported using the STROBE guidelines for observational studies.

Forward

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians, the Butchulla people, of the lands and waters upon which this research is conducted. We acknowledge their continuing connections to country and pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

Notation: In this document, the terms Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Indigenous are used interchangeably for Australia’s First Nations People. No disrespect is intended, and we acknowledge the rich cultural diversity of the groups of peoples that are the Traditional Custodians of the land with which they identify and with whom they share a connection and ancestry.