Psychosocial Characteristics and Obstetric Health of Women Attending a Specialist Substance Use Antenatal Clinic in a Large Metropolitan Hospital

Objective. This paper reports the findings comparing the obstetrical health, antenatal care, and psychosocial characteristics of pregnant women with a known history of substance dependence (n=41) and a comparison group of pregnant women attending a general antenatal clinic (n=47). Method. Face-to-fa...

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Main Authors: Lucy Burns, Elizabeth Conroy, Elizabeth A. Moore, Delyse Hutchinson, Paul S. Haber
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2011-01-01
Series:International Journal of Pediatrics
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/729237
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author Lucy Burns
Elizabeth Conroy
Elizabeth A. Moore
Delyse Hutchinson
Paul S. Haber
author_facet Lucy Burns
Elizabeth Conroy
Elizabeth A. Moore
Delyse Hutchinson
Paul S. Haber
author_sort Lucy Burns
collection DOAJ
description Objective. This paper reports the findings comparing the obstetrical health, antenatal care, and psychosocial characteristics of pregnant women with a known history of substance dependence (n=41) and a comparison group of pregnant women attending a general antenatal clinic (n=47). Method. Face-to-face interviews were used to assess obstetrical health, antenatal care, physical and mental functioning, substance use, and exposure to violence. Results. The substance-dependent group had more difficulty accessing antenatal care and reported more obstetrical health complications during pregnancy. Women in the substance-dependent group were more likely to report not wanting to become pregnant and were less likely to report using birth control at the time of conception. Conclusions. The profile of pregnant women (in specialised antenatal care for substance dependence) is one of severe disadvantage and poor health. The challenge is to develop and resource innovative and effective multisectoral systems to educate women and provide effective care for both women and infants.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1687-9740
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language English
publishDate 2011-01-01
publisher Wiley
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series International Journal of Pediatrics
spelling doaj-art-3cfd31c92aec4945828fb4c52a5609862025-08-20T03:55:33ZengWileyInternational Journal of Pediatrics1687-97401687-97592011-01-01201110.1155/2011/729237729237Psychosocial Characteristics and Obstetric Health of Women Attending a Specialist Substance Use Antenatal Clinic in a Large Metropolitan HospitalLucy Burns0Elizabeth Conroy1Elizabeth A. Moore2Delyse Hutchinson3Paul S. Haber4National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, AustraliaNational Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, AustraliaSchool of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney NSW 2052, AustraliaNational Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, AustraliaRoyal Prince Alfred Hospital Drug Health Service, Sydney NSW 2050, AustraliaObjective. This paper reports the findings comparing the obstetrical health, antenatal care, and psychosocial characteristics of pregnant women with a known history of substance dependence (n=41) and a comparison group of pregnant women attending a general antenatal clinic (n=47). Method. Face-to-face interviews were used to assess obstetrical health, antenatal care, physical and mental functioning, substance use, and exposure to violence. Results. The substance-dependent group had more difficulty accessing antenatal care and reported more obstetrical health complications during pregnancy. Women in the substance-dependent group were more likely to report not wanting to become pregnant and were less likely to report using birth control at the time of conception. Conclusions. The profile of pregnant women (in specialised antenatal care for substance dependence) is one of severe disadvantage and poor health. The challenge is to develop and resource innovative and effective multisectoral systems to educate women and provide effective care for both women and infants.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/729237
spellingShingle Lucy Burns
Elizabeth Conroy
Elizabeth A. Moore
Delyse Hutchinson
Paul S. Haber
Psychosocial Characteristics and Obstetric Health of Women Attending a Specialist Substance Use Antenatal Clinic in a Large Metropolitan Hospital
International Journal of Pediatrics
title Psychosocial Characteristics and Obstetric Health of Women Attending a Specialist Substance Use Antenatal Clinic in a Large Metropolitan Hospital
title_full Psychosocial Characteristics and Obstetric Health of Women Attending a Specialist Substance Use Antenatal Clinic in a Large Metropolitan Hospital
title_fullStr Psychosocial Characteristics and Obstetric Health of Women Attending a Specialist Substance Use Antenatal Clinic in a Large Metropolitan Hospital
title_full_unstemmed Psychosocial Characteristics and Obstetric Health of Women Attending a Specialist Substance Use Antenatal Clinic in a Large Metropolitan Hospital
title_short Psychosocial Characteristics and Obstetric Health of Women Attending a Specialist Substance Use Antenatal Clinic in a Large Metropolitan Hospital
title_sort psychosocial characteristics and obstetric health of women attending a specialist substance use antenatal clinic in a large metropolitan hospital
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/729237
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