title: The attitudes of healthcare professionals towards women using illicit substances in pregnancy: A cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the attitudes of healthcare professionals towards women who use substances in the maternity setting.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Illicit drug use in pregnancy leads to poor maternal and neonatal outcomes. Early access to antenatal care has been shown to improve outcomes however women who use substances in pregnancy have statistically low attendance rates to appointments. Fear of stigma from healthcare professionals is a commonly stated reason for not accessing maternity health services or not disclosing substance use to care givers, however little research has been conducted which assesses stigma from a healthcare perspective.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional quantitative research design was implemented using a previously validated attitudinal survey tool to assess the attitudes of healthcare practitioners and final year midwifery students. Ethics approval was sought and granted by the relevant institutions. A total of 147 completed questionnaires were returned. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences and parametric testing was undertaken.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants had largely positive or neutral attitudes towards women who use substances in pregnancy. Most participants agreed or strongly agreed that the care they provide to can make a real difference to outcomes. Midwifery students had significantly lower mean attitude scores, showing more positive attitudes, than any other group tested.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This research provides useful insight into the attitudes of healthcare professionals. While larger scale research is needed, the positive findings of this study may work towards reducing fear of stigma as a barrier to care for women.
authors: Disciplines of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia. Electronic address: u3044705@uni.canberra.edu.au.
authors: Siobhan
authors: S
authors: Fonti
authors: Disciplines of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia. Electronic address: Deborah.Davis@canberra.edu.au.
authors: Deborah
authors: D
authors: Davis
authors: Disciplines of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia. Electronic address: Sally.Ferguson@canberra.edu.au.
authors: Sally
authors: S
authors: Ferguson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D057545:Social Stigma; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Healthcare practitioners attitudes; Illicit drugs; Pregnancy; Stigma; Substance use