Multidisciplinary antenatal care for opiate-using women: Child-care issues.
OBJECTIVE
The fact that particular parents suffer afflictions limiting their ability to care does not mean that they should automatically be deemed unsuitable parents. Prompted by neonatal team concerns about child-care issues, a local multidisciplinary group was set up to care for substance-abusing pregnant women in our region.


METHODS
This project was conducted in order to review the records of all the women who had been discussed at our management planning meetings over the past 5 years. Our assessment tool records were reviewed and analysed using spss.


RESULTS
A total of 233 women were assessed. The majority of patients booked before 20 weeks (62%) and 96 women (41%) attended over 80% of their antenatal appointments. There was little change in substance use during the course of pregnancy. Overall, at delivery, 196 of the 233 women (84%) used methadone and 89(38%) used heroin. There was no correlation between usage and foster care of the baby (methadone: chi(2) = 0.5, P = 0.8 NS) (heroin: chi(2) = 3.1, P = 0.08 NS). There was an absolute correlation between social services involvement and foster care (chi(2) = 2.33, P < 0.0001). Adherence with planned antenatal appointments significantly increased the likelihood of a child being discharged with his mother (chi(2) = 6.7, P = 0.009).


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of newborns were discharged home with their mothers directly with the most significant factor in placing a child in foster care being prior involvement of social services. However, many of these families will continue to need support during the children's early years.
Adeniji
Aderonke A
AA
Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals, Hull Royal Infirmary, Hull, UK. aderonkeadeniji@hotmail.com
Purcell
Alison
A
Pearson
Lorraine
L
Antcliffe
Jan M
JM
Tutty
Susan
S
Sinha
Chitra
C
Pairaudeau
Peter W
PW
Lindow
Stephen W
SW
D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D005260:Female; D005581:Foster Home Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003932:Heroin / Q000009:adverse effects; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008691:Methadone / Q000009:adverse effects; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D012947:Social Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D003932:Heroin; D008691:Methadone