Abstract
Purpose
This study aimed to examine characteristic and outcome of mothers and babies focusing on the teen-mothers and their existing risk-behaviors, also to evaluate factors associated with subsequent foster care placements of their infants.
Method
Data of all pregnant women, categorized as teens and non-teens, with history of methamphetamine abuse giving birth at Siriraj Hospital between August2003-December2011 were reviewed. Maternal demographic, characteristic of substance uses and neonatal outcome were collected. Chi-square, Fisher exact, Mann-whiney U test, and logistic regression were used to analyze where appropriate. The protocol was approved by Siriraj Hospital IRB.
Results
Overall 235 pregnant women, both groups’ characteristics were similar except number of life-time partners, contraception-use, smoking history and sexual risk behaviors (p<.05). Majority of pregnancies (96.2%) were unplanned with 78.3% no antenatal care. 76.2% had positive methamphetamine-screen urine at delivery. During follow-up, 58.3% remained using methamphetamine. 75.3% of babies were born at term and 70.2% had positive meth-urine at birth. Significant predictors for the need of foster care placements were history of using methamphetamine while pregnant (OR 5.931; 95% CI 3.060-11.496, p ≤.05), positive meth-screen urine at delivery (OR 3.471; 95% CI 1.635-7.367, p ≤.05), positive meth-screen urine of babies after birth (OR 5.021; 95%CI 2.456-10.268, p ≤.05), and using methamphetamine during the home visit period (OR 9.073,95%CI 3.843-21.419, p <.05)
Conclusion
Characteristics and psychosocial outcome of methamphetamine abuse between teen and non-teen mothers were similar. History of methamphetamine use during pregnancy, positive meth-screen urine of mother and babies after birth were the noteworthy predictors to place the babies to foster parents.