TY - JOUR

T1 - Contextual risk and psychosocial profiles of opioid-using mothers

T2 - A mixed-methods study

AU - Beltrán-Arzate, Karina

AU - Hodson, Kevin

AU - Tes, Haley K.

AU - Bowyer, Sarah Anne H.

AU - Ratliff, Hollis C.

AU - Abraham, Michael M.

AU - Johnson, Elizabeth

AU - Harris, Malinda

AU - Jaekel, Julia

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2021.

PY - 2021/11

Y1 - 2021/11

N2 - Introduction: There is an increase in cases of mothers using opioids during pregnancy in the United States but research investigating mothers’ psychosocial environments along with individual variability among this high-risk group of women is scarce. Methods: This mixed-methods study aims to examine the complex interplay of contextual risks and experiences of opioid-using mothers. A sample of 50 opioid-using biological mothers of infants diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) were studied using a set of standardized and open-ended questions, along with medical records extraction. Results: A high-risk subgroup of 36 mothers was identified using cluster analysis, characterized by a distinct profile of psychosocial risk. Thematic content analysis revealed four themes: (1) barriers to communication and mistrust of health professionals, (2) limitations of access to health care and the amplification of disadvantages related to COVID-19, (3) lifelong consequences of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and (4) intimate partner violence and its influence on drug use. Conclusion: Our findings highlight important information toward health services provision for opioid-using women of childbearing age. Efforts to reduce opioid usage in mothers need to consider psychosocial and contextual risks.

AB - Introduction: There is an increase in cases of mothers using opioids during pregnancy in the United States but research investigating mothers’ psychosocial environments along with individual variability among this high-risk group of women is scarce. Methods: This mixed-methods study aims to examine the complex interplay of contextual risks and experiences of opioid-using mothers. A sample of 50 opioid-using biological mothers of infants diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) were studied using a set of standardized and open-ended questions, along with medical records extraction. Results: A high-risk subgroup of 36 mothers was identified using cluster analysis, characterized by a distinct profile of psychosocial risk. Thematic content analysis revealed four themes: (1) barriers to communication and mistrust of health professionals, (2) limitations of access to health care and the amplification of disadvantages related to COVID-19, (3) lifelong consequences of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and (4) intimate partner violence and its influence on drug use. Conclusion: Our findings highlight important information toward health services provision for opioid-using women of childbearing age. Efforts to reduce opioid usage in mothers need to consider psychosocial and contextual risks.

KW - adverse experiences

KW - contextual and psychosocial risk

KW - in-utero opioid use

KW - poverty

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85120165176&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1177/17455065211060624

DO - 10.1177/17455065211060624

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 34818934

AN - SCOPUS:85120165176

VL - 17

JO - Women's Health

JF - Women's Health

SN - 1745-5057

ER -