Prevalence of Drug Use Among Pregnant Women in a Rural Area

Legal precedent for criminalizing the behavior of pregnant women has been established in an attempt to protect the fetus. Elevating fetal rights over maternal rights is based on questionable assumptions and inconclusive medical evidence. These criminalization policies are sexist and serve to victimize poor, pregnant women. This paper examines the evidence and policies and suggests an alternative policy approach to dealing with families with parental drug use issues.

Download Full-text

Risk Factors Associated with Alcohol, Cigarette, and Illicit Drug Use Among Pregnant Women

Journal of Social Service Research ◽

10.1300/j079v32n04_01 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 32 (4) ◽

pp. 1-22 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Chien-Chung Huang ◽

Robert J. Reid

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Drug Use ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Illicit Drug ◽

Illicit Drug Use ◽

Factors Associated

Download Full-text

Prevention of Hepatitis B Infection in Newborns Through Mass Screening and Delayed Vaccination of All Infants of Mothers With Hepatitis B Surface Antigen

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.83.6.1041 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 83 (6) ◽

pp. 1041-1048

Author(s):

Solko W. Schalm ◽

J. Adriaan Mazel ◽

Gijsbert C. de Gast ◽

Rudolf A. Heijtink ◽

Meindert J. Botman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis B ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Rural Area ◽

Surface Antigen ◽

Hepatitis B Surface Antigen ◽

Large City ◽

Hepatitis B Infection ◽

Active Vaccination ◽

Group A ◽

Group B

Beginning in 1982 all pregnant women undergoing prenatal routine blood analysis in three large city hospitals and one large rural area were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Infants of all HBsAg-positive mothers received hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIg), 0.5 mL/kg of body weight within two hours of birth and, after randomization, 10 µg of hepatitis B vaccine either at 0, 1, 2, and 11 months of age (schedule A) or at 3, 4, 5, and 11 months of age (schedule B). A second injection of HBIg (1 mL) was given to infants on schedule B at 3 months of age. Blood samples were obtained at 3, 6, 11, 12, 24, and 36 months. In a two-year period, 28,412 pregnant women were tested for HBsAg; screening efficiency varied between 85% and 98%. The overall prevalence of HBsAg was 0.8%, with a marked variation between urban centers (2.2%) and the rural area (0.3%). Vaccinations were received by 180 of 193 infants of HBsAg-positive mothers (90 on schedule A and 90 on schedule B). Concentrations of hepatitis B surface antibody less than 10 IU/L were observed in nine instances in five children from group A and in seven instances in six children from group B. Four hepatitis B viral infections (two HBsAg carriers, two who underwent antihepatitis B core seroconversions) were recorded in group A v one infection (antihepatitis B core seroconversion) in group B. The protective efficacy of the program (screening plus passive immunization and delayed vaccination) was 94%. The estimated cost of preventing one case of hepatitis B infection in neonates was $3,000 (US currency). It is concluded that screening all pregnant women for HBsAg can be introduced effectively at reasonable costs in a country with a low prevalence of HBsAg and a high proportion of home deliveries. Delayed active vaccination starting at 3 months of age may be an effective and, for reasons of high compliance and low cost, attractive alternative to early active vaccination.

Download Full-text

Health care seeking behaviour of women during pregnancy in rural south India: a qualitative study

International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health ◽

10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20174224 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4 (10) ◽

pp. 3636 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Antony Vincent ◽

K. Keerthana ◽

Damotharan K. ◽

Ariarathinam Newtonraj ◽

Joy Bazroy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Antenatal Care ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Rural Area ◽

South India ◽

Care Seeking ◽

Important Indicator ◽

Good Opportunity ◽

Study Population

Background: Antenatal care is an important indicator in any health system. Through our study we intended to assess the perception of pregnant women regarding health seeking behaviour and awareness about complications during pregnancy. Methods: A qualitative study was carried out in August 2016, among the 41 pregnant women over 27 weeks of gestation in a rural area of south India. Women were selected randomly from the routine surveillance system maintained by Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences – Rural Health Training Centre, Chunampet, Kancheepuram District. Interviews audio recorded. After verbatim, manual coding and analysis was done based on pre decided eight themes. Results: In general all the antenatal women aware of the importance of regular antenatal check up. Knowledge regarding complications and danger sign was not adequate. Most of the women in rural area seek care in government facility due to its availability, accessibility and affordability. Decision making in health care is mostly taken by their husbands. Transportation has been identified as a barrier in seeking health care. Conclusions: Although few of the antenatal mothers in the study population were aware about some complications of pregnancy, but in general knowledge among most of the women was inadequate. There is a need for creating awareness among the antenatal mothers about common complications in pregnancy. On the other hand, the notion of routine care seeking during the antenatal period seems to be well rooted among the study population which is a very good sign. It is a good opportunity and is foundational to all other interventions relating to betterment of antenatal care in the community.

Download Full-text

Drug Use by Pregnant Women

Blaming Mothers ◽

10.18574/nyu/9780814724828.003.0005 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Linda C. Fentiman

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Substance Use ◽

Drug Use ◽

Prenatal Care ◽

Drug Treatment ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Drug Users ◽

Substance Use And Abuse ◽

Weak Evidence

This chapter examines the use of drugs—both legal and illegal–by pregnant women, noting increased medical and legal supervision of pregnancy and women’s substance use and abuse. Many states require health care professionals to report pregnant women who admit to, or are suspected of, using alcohol or other drugs. The result can be involuntary detention commitment for “treatment.” Women have been prosecuted for homicide after they suffer a stillbirth despite weak evidence that the stillbirth was caused by drug use. Prosecution of these women is counterproductive, because it drives pregnant drug users underground, away from both prenatal care and drug treatment.

Download Full-text