Evaluation of substance use outcomes in demonstration projects for pregnant and postpartum women and their infants: findings from a quasi-experiment.
We evaluated the impact of nine community-based drug prevention, education, and treatment projects for pregnant and postpartum women using a quasi-experimental design. Projects provided case management and referral to services or provided day treatment. Self-reported measures of six substances were collected (a) from intake to delivery and (b) delivery to 6 months postpartum. We hypothesized that women who received project services (n = 370) between intake and follow-ups would be more likely to deter or reduce substance use than women who received an alternative or no intervention (n = 288). Data showed that project clients had significantly lower 30-day use rates on four of the measures-alcohol, any illicit drug(s), marijuana, and crack-from intake to delivery, with preintervention alcohol and other drugs use controlled. However, none of these results was maintained from intake through 6 months postpartum. Findings are discussed in terms of the difficulty of detecting and documenting promising intervention program effects over time in this population.
Eisen
M
M
Johnson, Bassin & Shaw, Inc., USA. meisen@UI.Urban.org
Keyser-Smith
J
J
Dampeer
J
J
Sambrano
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D019090:Case Management; D003631:Day Care, Medical; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D013287:Illicit Drugs