Recorded presentation

Benita Walton-Moss, DNS, RN, FNP, School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, 525 N. Wolfe St., Rm 427, Baltimore, MD 21205, 410-955-1290, bmoss@son.jhmi.edu

While there are studies of attitudes and beliefs about tobacco and alcohol during pregnancy, there is little known about women’s perceptions of risk of adverse birth outcomes related to their drug use. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship of women’s perceptions of risk of five adverse birth outcomes and their tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use during pregnancy. This is a secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial testing two strategies designed to motivate pregnant women to enroll in substance abuse treatment. The focus of this analysis was women’s (N=153) response to whether they thought their tobacco, alcohol, or illicit drug use would increase, decrease or leave the likelihood unchanged that the baby would be born “smaller,” “premature,” with “abnormalities,” “mental difficulties,” or infected with “HIV (AIDS) virus.” Factors significant after bivariate analysis were retained in a stepwise logistic regression analysis for each birth outcome. Except for “born with mental difficulties,” 65% to 69% believed that their drug use would increase the likelihood of each adverse birth outcome. In contrast, 66% of participants believed their drug use would not change the likelihood of a baby born with mental difficulties with an additional 9% believing drug use would decrease mental difficulties. Independent predictors of increased likelihood of these outcomes included maternal age, prenatal care, number of prior births, perceived importance of legal services, anxiety, depression, cocaine use, and extent troubled by drug use. These findings have implications for targeted education as well as for public health campaigns.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify significant factors related to the drug-dependent women’s perceived risk of having an adverse birth outcome.
• Describe the general patterns of women’s perceived risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.
• Discuss educational needs of substance dependent pregnant women.

Keywords: Drug Abuse, Pregnancy Outcomes

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation