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Abstract
Introduction: The study investigates health and social conditions among pregnant substance abusers and the children that were born from these pregnancies, and analyses outcomes in relation to type of substance abuse.
Methods: Register data concerning 97 pregnant substance abusers and 104 children, at birth and 5 years on, were analysed with descriptive statistics and chi square tests.
Results: The women presented a multitude of problems, including low education, substance abusing partners, and elevated smoking rates. Compared with the population, more children were born prematurely and average birth weight was almost 350 g lower. About 14% were diagnosed as being affected by maternal substance abuse. During follow-up, 5 women died and 88% showed continued substance-related mental and health problems. All children survived and 85% experienced placement in out-of-home care. Purchase of psychotropic drugs and mental health problems were more common among women with alcohol as one drug of preference.
Conclusions: Parenthood did not represent a turning point for pregnant substance abusers. Comprehensive and persistent support is necessary, but in the short-term, efforts should be made to curb excessive smoking rates. The children faced several disadvantages at birth, but a longer follow-up is required to assess the impact of maternal substance abuse properly.
Notes
Acknowledgements
The study was approved by the Regional Ethical Review Board in Stockholm. The study was greatly facilitated by Mikaela Persson, MA, who prepared the complex dataset for analysis. Two anonymous reviewers provided extremely helpful comments.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.
Notes
1 In line with recent changes in DSM-V, the preferred term is now people with substance use disorder. This study is, however, based on data from a period where substance abuse was the “going term”. More importantly – the women in this study are placed in compulsory care according to social welfare legislation, which does not imply the presence of any formal diagnosis. It would therefore be misleading to refer to the clients as persons with substance use disorders, implying that they actually have been diagnosed as such.
2 This does not, however, include an unborn child.
3 This year was chosen for comparison as it is the in the middle of the period from which the study group was chosen (2000–2009).