Abstract (242/250 words)
Background: Cannabis use during the perinatal period is rising.
Objectives: To synthesize existing knowledge on the
perspectives of pregnant people and their partners about cannabis use in
pregnancy and lactation.
Search strategy: We searched MEDLINE, APA PsycINFO, Cumulative
Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Social Science Citation
Index, Social Work Abstracts, ProQuest Sociology Collection up until
April 1, 2020.
Selection criteria: Eligible studies were those of any
methodology which included the perspectives and experiences of pregnant
or lactating people and their partners on cannabis use during pregnancy
or lactation, with no time or geographical limit.
Data collection and analysis: We employed a convergent
integrative approach to the analysis of findings from all studies, using
Sandelowski’s technique of “qualitizing statements” to extract and
summarize relevant findings from inductive analysis.
Main results: We identified 23 studies describing the views of
9474 pregnant people and 613 postpartum about cannabis use in pregnancy.
Comparative analysis revealed that whether cannabis was studied alone or
grouped with other substances resulted in significant diversity in
descriptions of participant decision-making priorities and perceptions
of risks and benefits. Studies combining cannabis with other substance
seldom addressed perceived benefits or reasons for using cannabis.
Conclusions: The way cannabis is grouped with other substances
influences the design and results of research. A comparative analysis
emphasizes the importance of understanding why a pregnant person might
choose to use cannabis in order to foster dialogue about perceptions of
benefit and strategies for risk mitigation.
Funding: Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Key words: cannabis, pregnancy, lactation, systematic review,
mixed-methods, integrative review
Prospero registration number: CRD42020180038