Enquête nationale sur les habitudes de consommations de tabac, chicha, cannabis chez 3463 étudiants sages-femmes en 2008

The purpose of this study is to assess the consumption of tobacco, chicha, and cannabis in student midwives and discern their opinion about the quality of their theoretical and clinical training concerning smoking during pregnancy. Until now, no studies have demonstrated whether or not the behaviour of student midwives differed due to their university training in the field of health or whether their behaviour was identical to that of young people of their own age group. The anonymous self-questionnaire includes questions taken from a medical students questionnaire, a 2003 national survey, as well as other questions. This study is based on an anonymous self-administered questionnaire consisting of 23 questions (Annexe 1). A total of 3463 questionnaires were analysed in 2008 representing all of the student midwives in metropolitan France and the overseas departments. The results of this study demonstrate that the student midwives smoke less on a daily basis (14%) than the general population of the same age. The age reported for the first cigarette is 14 years in the female student midwives and 15 years in the male student midwives. Thirty-three percent of them are occasional consumers of cannabis, 43% of chicha. The behaviour of student midwives as regards chicha and cannabis is similar to that of the general population of the same age. Specific programmes of prevention need to be developed for student midwives and their curriculum has to be adapted to the population of pregnant smokers or women subject to passive smoking. In fact, midwives have specific medical responsibilities concerning the public health problems raised by smoking or more globally by the addictions of the women they monitor during their pregnancy or see for contraceptive purposes.