Infant and Maternal Outcomes Associated with Self-Reported Illicit Drug Use During Pregnancy

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify infant and maternal outcomes associated with self-reported illicit drug use during pregnancy and to determine if illicit drug use prior to pregnancy, but not during pregnancy, conferred added risk to the mother or infant. Participants were identified from newborn referrals to the local visiting nurse association (VNA) and unrestricted birth certificates over a 3-month study period in a city 20 miles southeast of Boston. Of 360 subjects contacted, 284 who had delivered a viable infant agreed to participate. Data were collected using an interview schedule designed for this study and were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Of the 284 subjects, 26.8% of the subjects reported using any illicit drug, 22.5% reported using marijuana, and 10.6% cocaine during pregnancy. Pregnancy users of illicit drugs had a 2.2 (confidence interval [CI] = 1.1, 4.4) greater risk of experiencing premature birth, precipitous labor, low weight gain placental abrupt...