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Children who face development risks due to maternal addiction during pregnancy require extra medical and psychosocial resources

Rangmar, Jenny ; Lilja, Maria ; Köhler, Marie LU and Reuter, Antonia (2019) In Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics 108(1). p.101-105
Abstract

Aim: This study examined medical and psychosocial risk factors in children born to women with addiction problems during pregnancy and the children's needs for extra medical and psychosocial resources. Methods: Swedish midwives routinely screen pregnant women for drugs and alcohol and refer women with addictions to the Maternity and Child Healthcare Resource Team. We investigated the medical records of 127 children (51% girls) whose mothers were referred to the Resource Team from 2009 to 2015. Additional data were obtained from local child healthcare services (CHS), which provide routine paediatric care. Results: More than three-quarters (76%) of the children had prenatal exposure to alcohol and drugs, and 17% were born with withdrawal... (More)

Aim: This study examined medical and psychosocial risk factors in children born to women with addiction problems during pregnancy and the children's needs for extra medical and psychosocial resources. Methods: Swedish midwives routinely screen pregnant women for drugs and alcohol and refer women with addictions to the Maternity and Child Healthcare Resource Team. We investigated the medical records of 127 children (51% girls) whose mothers were referred to the Resource Team from 2009 to 2015. Additional data were obtained from local child healthcare services (CHS), which provide routine paediatric care. Results: More than three-quarters (76%) of the children had prenatal exposure to alcohol and drugs, and 17% were born with withdrawal symptoms. The mothers had a high rate of psychiatric diagnoses (38%) and were more likely to smoke after delivery and less likely to breastfeed than the general population. However, adherence to the CHS programme was generally high. Additional visits to the nurse, referrals to specialists, collaboration meetings and reports of concerns to social services decreased when the children began attending ordinary CHS centres. Conclusion: Children born to women with addictions during pregnancy faced a high risk of developmental problems and should be offered additional CHS resources to minimise negative long-term consequences.

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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Alcohol, Drugs, Extra healthcare resources, Prenatal exposure, Withdrawal symptoms
in
Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics
volume
108
issue
1
pages
5 pages
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:85058292954
  • pmid:29781554
ISSN
0803-5253
DOI
10.1111/apa.14407
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
c04baa3d-325c-4be5-95be-e8f6c00aacf5
date added to LUP
2019-01-02 13:37:36
date last changed
2024-06-11 01:53:17
@article{c04baa3d-325c-4be5-95be-e8f6c00aacf5,
  abstract     = {{<p>Aim: This study examined medical and psychosocial risk factors in children born to women with addiction problems during pregnancy and the children's needs for extra medical and psychosocial resources. Methods: Swedish midwives routinely screen pregnant women for drugs and alcohol and refer women with addictions to the Maternity and Child Healthcare Resource Team. We investigated the medical records of 127 children (51% girls) whose mothers were referred to the Resource Team from 2009 to 2015. Additional data were obtained from local child healthcare services (CHS), which provide routine paediatric care. Results: More than three-quarters (76%) of the children had prenatal exposure to alcohol and drugs, and 17% were born with withdrawal symptoms. The mothers had a high rate of psychiatric diagnoses (38%) and were more likely to smoke after delivery and less likely to breastfeed than the general population. However, adherence to the CHS programme was generally high. Additional visits to the nurse, referrals to specialists, collaboration meetings and reports of concerns to social services decreased when the children began attending ordinary CHS centres. Conclusion: Children born to women with addictions during pregnancy faced a high risk of developmental problems and should be offered additional CHS resources to minimise negative long-term consequences.</p>}},
  author       = {{Rangmar, Jenny and Lilja, Maria and Köhler, Marie and Reuter, Antonia}},
  issn         = {{0803-5253}},
  keywords     = {{Alcohol; Drugs; Extra healthcare resources; Prenatal exposure; Withdrawal symptoms}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{101--105}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics}},
  title        = {{Children who face development risks due to maternal addiction during pregnancy require extra medical and psychosocial resources}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/apa.14407}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/apa.14407}},
  volume       = {{108}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}