Cocaine and the Risk of Low Birth Weight DIANA B. PETITTI, MD, MPH,

AND

CHARLOTTE COLEMAN, BA

Abstract: In a population-based case-control study, we assessed the relation between cocaine use and the risk of low birth weight in Alameda County, California, excluding women who used heroin and/or methadone during pregnancy. After adjustment for confounders, the relative risk of low birth weight in users of cocaine

throughout pregnancy was 4.0 (95% CI = 1.8, 8.9). Cocaine use was estimated to account for 10 percent of cases of low birth weight in Black women in Alameda County. (Am J Public Health 1990; 80:25-28.)

Introduction

(77.1 percent) and 462 of 533 eligible White mothers (86.7 percent) were interviewed. Women were separately queried about use of cocaine and of "crack" or freebase cocaine, which is the smoking of pure crystalline cocaine. 12 Information about other potential confounders was also collected by interview. Cases of low birth weight were sub-classified into three groups: s 1500 grams (very low birth weight), 1501-2500 grams and