Influence of Drug Addiction on Pregnancy

Abstract

Introduction: The present work deals with the problem area of drug addiction and its impact on pregnancy and the course of childbirth. Objective: To describe the sociodemographic data of female drug addicts; to assess their impact on the provision of prenatal care and to compare this data with available foreign studies. Method: A retrospective analytical study was conducted; the obtained data were encrypted and anonymized. Selection criteria: woman used drugs either before or during pregnancy; woman delivered in a healthcare facility in the Ústí nad Labem Region. Results: The sociodemographic situation of female drug users has a significant impact on pregnancy and the form of delivery. Important factors for the development of drug addiction appear to be women’s unemployment, lower education and socioeconomic instability. Addiction to habit-forming substances is directly related to cigarette smoking. The consequence of these factors is insufficient care in pregnancy due to a lack of interest by the pregnant drug-addicted woman. Conclusion: Given the current development of our society, we must assume that the number of drug-addicted pregnant women will continue to increase in regions with higher unemployment, causing a lower socioeconomic status of the population. Addicted pregnant women in vulnerable communities should be detected and both existing and potential risks that such women are exposed to need to be addressed in the nursing care.