Impact of Social Distancing and Travel Restrictions on Non-Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Non-COVID-19) Respiratory Hospital Admissions in Young Children in Rural Alaska.

Hospitalizations due to non-coronavirus disease 2019 (non-COVID-19) respiratory illnesses decreased dramatically after social distancing was implemented in a high-risk population in rural Alaska; an unprecedented decline compared to the past 10 respiratory seasons. This demonstrates the potential secondary benefits of implementing social distancing and travel restrictions on respiratory illnesses.

Association of Tobacco Use During Pregnancy, Perceived Stress, and Depression Among Alaska Native Women Participants in the Healthy Pregnancies Project.

INTRODUCTION: In general population samples, higher levels of stress and depression have been associated with increased prevalence of smoking in pregnancy. Little is known about the association of prenatal tobacco use, stress, and depression among American Indian or Alaska Native (AI/AN) women. METHODS: The Healthy Pregnancies Project is a cluster-randomized controlled trial, evaluating a community-level intervention compared with usual care, for reducing tobacco use during pregnancy and postpartum among AN women in 16 villages in western Alaska. This cross-sectional study analyzed baseline data from enrolled pregnant women. Baseline measures included the self-reported, 7-day, point-prevalence current use of any tobacco, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D). Generalized estimating equations (GEE) analyses adjusted for village, participant age, and gestational age. RESULTS: Participants (N = 352) were on average (SD) 25.8 (5.0) years of age and at 26.8 (9.8) weeks gestation. 66.5% were current tobacco users, of which 77% used Iqmik, a homemade form of smokeless tobacco. Compared with nonusers, tobacco users reported lower PSS score (p = .020) and less clinical levels of depression (CES-D ≥ 16) (18.1% vs. 9.3%, p = .21). Findings were not accounted for by nicotine dependence severity or self-reported tobacco use before pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: In this sample of pregnant AN women, tobacco users report less stress and clinical levels of depression than nonusers. A potential challenge with tobacco treatment for pregnant AN women is to provide alternative ways of deescalating stress and affect management instead of using tobacco. IMPLICATIONS: This study contributes novel information on the association of tobacco use, perceived stress, and depression among Alaska Native women enrolled in a clinical trial to promote healthy pregnancies. Most prior studies addressing this topic were conducted among general population samples of pregnant women who smoked cigarettes. Little is known about these associations with prenatal smokeless tobacco, or among American Indian or Alaska Native women. The results are contrary to findings reported previously, because current tobacco use was associated with less stress and depression than nonuse. The study findings have implications for cessation treatment for this tobacco-use disparity group.

Healthy Pregnancies Project: Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial of a Community Intervention to Reduce Tobacco Use among Alaska Native Women.

Substantial gaps remain in the evidence base for prenatal tobacco use interventions among Indigenous women. Using a cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT), the Healthy Pregnancies Project evaluated a community-level intervention for Alaska Native (AN) women in rural western Alaska. Sixteen villages were randomly assigned to usual care (control, n = 8 villages) or usual care plus a community-level intervention delivered by local AN "Native Sisters" (n = 8 villages). Outcomes were tobacco use rate at delivery and at 2 and 6 months postpartum, with biochemical confirmation obtained at 6 months. The program had high reach, enrolling 73% of all eligible women screened. Of the 352 participants, 67% used tobacco at baseline. No significant differences emerged between study groups on follow-up in tobacco use rates. More intervention than control participants made a quit attempt at 2 months postpartum (70% vs. 51%, respectively, p = 0.012). Participants in both study groups reported the program helped to raise awareness of healthy pregnancies in the study villages. This trial supports the reach of a community-level intervention, but not its efficacy for reducing tobacco use during pregnancy or postpartum. Efforts to sustain early quit attempts appear warranted. The community involvement, and reported impact on raising awareness of the importance of healthy pregnancies, supports the value of the research program in this community.

The Healthy Pregnancies Project: Study protocol and baseline characteristics for a cluster-randomized controlled trial of a community intervention to reduce tobacco use among Alaska Native pregnant women.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco use prevalence is high among pregnant Alaska Native (AN) women but few interventions have been evaluated for this group. The Healthy Pregnancies Project aims to evaluate a multicomponent intervention for reducing tobacco use during pregnancy and the postpartum period among AN women. This report describes the study protocol and participant baseline characteristics. DESIGN: Cluster-randomized controlled trial with village as the unit of assignment. Sixteen villages in rural southwest Alaska were stratified on village size and randomized to a multicomponent intervention (n = 8 villages) or usual care (n = 8 villages). METHODS: Pregnant AN women from the study villages were enrolled. All participants receive the usual care provided to pregnant women in this region. Participants from intervention villages additionally receive individual phone counseling on healthy pregnancies plus a social marketing campaign targeting the entire community delivered by local AN "Native Sisters." Baseline measurements for all enrolled pregnant women have been completed. Follow-up assessments are ongoing at delivery, and at 2 and 6 months postpartum. The primary outcome is biochemically verified tobacco use status at 6 months postpartum. RESULTS: Recruitment was feasible with 73% of eligible women screened enrolled. The program reached more than half (56%) of AN pregnant women from the study villages during the recruitment period. Participants are N = 352 pregnant AN women, 188 enrolled from intervention villages and 164 from control villages. At baseline, participants' mean (SD) age was 25.8 (5.0) years, they were at 26.8 (9.8) weeks gestation, and 66.5% were current tobacco users. DISCUSSION: Processes and products from this project may have relevance to other Native American populations aiming to focus on healthy pregnancies in their communities.