The effects of maternal drug dependence on neonatal mortality

Abstract

Addiction in pregnancy has become an important health problem owing to the tendency of drug-dependent women to neglect general health care and to avoid seeking prenatal care. In addition, continued heroin administration during pregnancy carries additional risks for the maternal-fetal unit. Thus, there is an increased incidence of obstetrical and medical complications in these mothers, resulting in high incidences of prematurity, low birth weight and mortality in their infants. Therefore, there is a high neonatal mortality rate due to clinical conditions most commonly seen among premature infants. Data from three groups of drug-dependent women and their infants and one control group demonstrate that the high mortality rate, as well as the incidence of low birth weight, can be reduced to a rate similar to the control group in infants of mothers who receive comprehensive services that include prenatal care in conjunction with methadone maintenance.