[Prevalence of prenatal exposure to cocaine in a sample of newborns from a university teaching hospital]
OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of prenatal exposure to cocaine in a sample of newborns using two methods: fluorescence polarization immunoassay and interview with the mother. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out in a university teaching hospital. The population included all live births between March 23, 1999 and June 01, 1999 (n=847). Exposure was determined by a benzoylecgonine-positive meconium specimen and/or by a positive interview with the mother. RESULTS: The prevalence of prenatal exposure to cocaine in this sample was 2.4% (16 cases) according to the interviews, and 3.4% (25 cases) according to the meconium analysis. A rate of 4.6% (34 cases) was found when both methods were associated. CONCLUSIONS: We observed that the meconium test was more effective than the maternal interview for the diagnosis of prenatal exposure to cocaine. The meconium analysis enhanced diagnostic chances by 53.4%, compared to 26% in the case of maternal interview.
Cunha
G B
GB
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Rotta
N T
NT
Silva
A R
AR
Dieder
A L
AL
Wolf
A L
AL
Moser
C
C
Silva
F F
FF
Socal
M P
MP
Silva
P F
PF
Margis
R
R