Maternal Drug Use
The
use of illicit and legal drugs and alcohol among pregnant women
has been reported as a major factor in West Virginia's poor newborn
outcomes. The increase in the number of chemically-dependent babies
presents a cost to society. The Perinatal Partnership has identified
the problem in detail and made policy recommendations for the treatment of
both pregnant women and newborns. This information is contained in the
Reports on the Blueprint to Improve Perinatal Health, and the partners
are working now to implement the recommendations.
New Model Policy Developed: Substance Screening and Testing of the Pregnant Patient at the Outpatient Visit
As part of its work, the West Virginia Perinatal Partnership developed a model policy for substance screening and testing of the pregnant patient. Screening and testing for substance abuse in pregnancy increases the identification of substance users and allows for early intervention and treatment. Health care providers tend to show unintentional bias when determining who to screen or test. Therefore all pregnant women should be screened each trimester as part of the normal routine. It is also recommended that all postpartum women be screened, if possible.
Model Informed Consent: Screening & Testing for Controlled or Addictive Substances in Pregnancy
Other resources:
Read the most recent Committee on Drug Use During Pregnancy Sub Committee on Medical Guidelines Report and Recommendations (9/15/09).
One in five West Virginia born infants were found to have been subjected to drugs or alcohol while in utero. View the report of the study and the associated PowerPoint Presentation (12/09)
Maternal Smoking
The
problem of maternal smoking offers a challenge to all involved in perinatal
health care. The prospect of a good birth outcome for a pregnant smoker is
much dimmer compared to that of a pregnant non-smoker. On June 19, 2007 the
West Virginia Perinatal Partnership sponsored a newly completed presentation
on the maternal smoking in West Virginia. You may hear and view the
presentation and the discussion
here.
The following supporting material was made available at
the presentation:
Maternal Smoking in West Virginia, 1996-2005: A Hypothetical Assessment of Its Impact on Infant Health by Daniel M. Christy, MPA (Power Point Presentation)
Health Statistics Center Statistical Brief No. 4 Update: Smoking: Effects on Mothers and Babies in West Virginia (MS Word Document)
Table: West Virginia Births 2004-06; Maternal Smoking vs. Non-smoking and Average Birth Weight (Excel Spreadsheet)
West Virginia Division of Tobacco Prevention's (DTP) 2007 Annual Progress Report (External Link)