Open AccessPrevalence of substance abuse in pregnancy among Danish women
Author(s) -
Rausgaard Nete L.K.,
Ibsen Inge O.,
Jørgensen Jan S.,
Lamont Ronald F.,
Ravn Pernille
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.1111/aogs.12528
Subject(s) - medicine , danish , pregnancy , cannabis , obstetrics , methamphetamine , substance abuse , urine , gestation , cross sectional study , cohort , cohort study , psychiatry , gynecology , philosophy , linguistics , genetics , pathology , biology
There are few recent data on the prevalence of substance abuse among Danish pregnant women. During 2013, in the Region of Southern Denmark, a cross‐sectional, anonymous, screening‐based study was conducted among pregnant women attending for routine ultrasound scan at 12 weeks gestation. The women submitted a urine sample and completed a short questionnaire. Urine samples were tested for opiates, cannabis, benzodiazepines, cocaine, methadone, amphetamine and methamphetamine. Positive samples underwent repeat analysis for confirmation. Of 690 pregnant women, 88.1% participated. Overall, 3.6% of women had a positive urine sample confirmed by repeated analysis. The age distribution in women with positive samples did not differ from the entire cohort. Our findings indicate a larger prevalence than anticipated, and that a substantial number of pregnant women with substance abuse are not appropriately referred to the focused specialist center for such women at risk.