Survey of Pregnant Women 2025
The Department for National Drug Control (DNDC) has published the Survey of Pregnant Women 2025, the fifth survey of its kind conducted in Bermuda, following previous rounds in 2005, 2009, 2015 and 2020.
The survey was administered over three weeks, from 8 to 30 September 2025, to pregnant women presenting for prenatal care at participating obstetrician/gynaecologist practices and the government-funded Maternal Health Clinic. A total of 60 women completed the anonymous, voluntary questionnaire, which combined the World Health Organization's Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) with questions on tobacco and marijuana use and, for the second time, electronic vaping.
The purpose of the survey is to heighten awareness that alcohol, tobacco and marijuana use during pregnancy increases the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, and to continue monitoring the prevalence of use of these substances along with vaping among pregnant women in Bermuda.
Key findings
Alcohol: Just over half of respondents (55.0%) reported never drinking alcohol. However, 15.0% had consumed an alcoholic beverage since becoming pregnant, and 18.4% reported having six or more drinks on one occasion, indicating a strong likelihood of hazardous or harmful consumption. Two respondents (3.3%) scored eight or more on the AUDIT, indicating hazardous or harmful alcohol use and possible alcohol dependence.
Tobacco: 10.0% of respondents reported using tobacco in the past year, with no reported current (past 30 days) cigarette use. Nearly one in five (18.3%) said they quit smoking because they became pregnant, and 91.7% were aware of the harmful effects of smoking during pregnancy. Notably, just under half (46.7%) said a doctor or health professional had discussed the harmful effects of smoking with them since becoming pregnant.
Marijuana: About one in four women (23.3%) reported using marijuana in the past year, while 1.7% reported current use.
Vaping: 16.7% of women reported having used an e-cigarette or other electronic nicotine product a sharp rise from 3.1% in 2020 making vaping an emerging area of concern.
Trends over two decades (2005–2025)
The report includes a 20-year trend analysis showing that maternal age has steadily increased, tobacco use has declined substantially, and binge drinking in later trimesters remains a persistent concern. E-cigarette use has emerged as a new behavioural pattern since 2020.
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