Short-term Outcomes of Mothers and Infants Exposed to Antenatal Amphetamines

Ju Lee Oei ^1*, Mohamed E. Abdel-Latif ², Rowena Clark ¹, Fiona Craig ¹ and Kei Lui ¹

¹ Royal Hospital for Women, Australia
² The Canberra Hospital, Australia

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: ju.oei{at}sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au.

Accepted 30 July 2009

Abstract

Aim: To determine short-term outcomes of newborn infants and mothers exposed to antenatal amphetamines in the state of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory during 2004.

Methods: Amphetamine-exposure was determined retrospectively using ICD-10 AM morbidity code searches of hospital medical records and from records of local Drug and Alcohol Services. Records were reviewed on site. All public hospitals (n=101) with obstetric services were included.

Results: Amphetamines were used by 200 (22.9%) of the 871 identified drug-using mothers. Most women (182, 91%) injected amphetamines intravenously. Compared to the other 669 drug users, amphetamine-using mothers were significantly more likely to use multiple classes of drugs (45.0% v 7.8%), subject to domestic violence (32.1% v 17.5%), homeless (14.8% v 4.9%) and be involved with correctional services (19.8 % v 9.7%). The incidence of co-morbid psychiatric illnesses were significantly higher (57.4% v 41.7%) and their infants were more likely to be preterm (29.5% v 20.4%), notified as children-at-risk (67.0% v 32.8%), fostered prior to hospital discharge (14.5% v 5.5%) and less likely to be breast-fed (27.0% v 41.6%).

Conclusions: Amphetamine-exposed mothers and infants in public hospitals of NSW and the ACT are at significantly higher risk of adverse social and perinatal outcomes even when compared to mothers and infants exposed to other drugs of dependency. Increased vigilance for amphetamine exposure is recommended due to a high prevalence of use, especially in Australia, as a recreational drug.