ASSOCIATION OF ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO USE DURING PREGNANCY: IMPACTS ON MATERNAL AND FETAL HEALTH

Abstract

: Introduction: The association between alcohol and tobacco consumption during pregnancy represents a relevant public health problem, with potential negative repercussions for the health of pregnant women and their fetuses. General objective: to understand and analyze the consequences of combined exposure to alcohol and cigarettes during pregnancy on maternal and fetal/newborn health. Methodology: This is a systematic review. The search for studies was carried out in the PubMed, SciELO, LILACS, Cochrane, and BVS databases, following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) criteria and using the PICO (Intervention/Exposure, Comparison/Control, and Outcomes) strategy to define the research question. Inclusion criteria: studies published between 2015 and 2025, available in Portuguese, English, or Spanish, with full text, and that directly addressed the effects of exposure to alcohol and tobacco during pregnancy. The following were excluded: duplicate articles, and studies that were not related to the thematic scope of this review, and did not directly address alcohol and tobacco exposure during pregnancy. Results: The results indicated that concomitant exposure to alcohol and tobacco is associated with a significant increase in perinatal complications and harm to child development, especially in fine motor skills and maternal metabolic conditions. The systematic review showed that the association between alcohol and cigarettes during pregnancy increases the risks of maternal and neonatal complications, such as prematurity, low birth weight, and neurodevelopmental delay. The effects are aggravated by individual and social factors that increase the vulnerability of the pregnant woman. The concomitant use of these substances intensifies the damage to the fetus and mother. Conclusion: The studies analyzed demonstrated that this association is related to several adverse obstetric and neonatal outcomes, such as low birth weight, prematurity, neuropsychomotor development delay, sensory deficiencies, in addition to maternal complications such as anemia and gestational diabetes.