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. 2024 Mar;38(2):205-210.
doi: 10.1037/adb0000952. Epub 2023 Aug 24.

Prevalence of psychosocial issues among pregnant women who do and do not use illicit substances

Loren S Kock  1 , Heidi S Melbostad  1 , Sarah H Heil  1
Affiliations

Prevalence of psychosocial issues among pregnant women who do and do not use illicit substances

Loren S Kock et al. Psychol Addict Behav. 2024 Mar.

Abstract

Objective: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends providers screen their prenatal patients for 11 psychosocial issues because they affect patient mental and physical well-being. The prevalence and co-occurrence of these issues have rarely been compared among pregnant women who do and do not report recent illicit substance use.

Method: Seven psychosocial issues identified by ACOG were operationalized using National Survey on Drug Use and Health variables. We report weighted prevalence and adjusted risk ratios (ARR) for these issues in pregnant women who did versus did not report past-month illicit substance use.

Results: Pregnant women (n = 3,657) who reported past-month illicit substance use (6.3%; 95% CI [5.4-7.3]) had significantly higher prevalence of almost all psychosocial issues examined, including past-month cigarette smoking (44.9% versus 9.5%; ARR = 2.84, 95% CI [2.21-3.65]); past-month alcohol use, 36.1% versus 7.9%; ARR = 4.71 (3.59-6.18); serious past-month distress, 23.0% versus 5.0%; ARR = 3.51 (2.39-5.15); no health insurance, 11.7% versus 6.2%; ARR = 1.71 (1.07-2.74); and receipt of food stamps, 45.0% versus 24.0%; ARR = 1.40 (1.18-1.67). Moving 3 + times in the past year followed a similar pattern, but results were compatible with there being no difference, 10.6% versus 5.5%; ARR = 1.39 (0.86-2.25). The majority of pregnant women reporting illicit substance use endorsed experiencing ≥ 2 psychosocial issues while the majority of those who did not report illicit substance use did not endorse any.

Conclusions: Pregnant women who use illicit substances experience higher prevalence and greater co-occurrence of psychosocial issues compared to those who do not, reinforcing recommendations for multidisciplinary approaches to care. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

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Figures

Figure 1:
Figure 1:
The proportion of pregnant women endorsing different numbers of psychosocial issues according to whether they did or did not report past-month illicit substance use. Note. Results are based on an unweighted sample of 3,657 currently pregnant women. Proportions are based on Ns weighted to be representative of the US population (2015–2019). No respondents reported experiencing all seven psychosocial issues.
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