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Published on: August 25, 2014
Effects of prenatal cocaine exposure and postnatal environment on child development
Toosje Thyssen Van Beveren1, Bertis B. Little, Melanie J. Spence
1Division of Prenatal Diagnosis and Clinical Genetics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.
Insights
Prenatal cocaine exposure negatively impacts infant development. While adoption improved outcomes for unexposed infants, it did not mitigate the effects of prenatal cocaine exposure on cognitive and motor skills.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Pediatrics
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Limited research exists on long-term developmental effects of prenatal cocaine exposure.
- Previous studies often overlook the influence of the postnatal environment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the comparative roles of prenatal cocaine exposure and postnatal environment on infant development.
- To assess cognitive functioning, fine motor skills, and physical growth at 12 months of age.
Main Methods:
- Study included four groups of 25 infants: cocaine-exposed and non-exposed, in low socioeconomic (biological parents) and middle/upper-middle socioeconomic (adopted) environments.
- Infants assessed using Uzgiris-Hunt Ordinal Scales, Fagan Test of Infant Intelligence, and Infant Monitoring Questionnaire.
- Physical growth (height, head circumference) measured; gender and ethnicity statistically controlled.
Main Results:
- Prenatal cocaine exposure was associated with significant deficits in cognitive functioning, fine motor development, and physical growth compared to controls.
- Adoption positively influenced cognitive and fine motor skills in infants without prenatal cocaine exposure.
- Adoption did not appear to enhance developmental outcomes for infants with prenatal cocaine exposure.
Conclusions:
- Prenatal cocaine exposure has lasting negative effects on infant development.
- The postnatal environment, particularly socioeconomic status influenced by adoption, can positively impact development for unexposed infants.
- Intervention strategies should consider both prenatal and postnatal factors for children exposed to cocaine in utero.
Abstract:
Studies on the long-term developmental effects of in utero cocaine exposure are few and the small number of studies published do not consider the postnatal environment. The present investigation was conducted to quantify the role that postnatal environment played compared to prenatal exposure. Four groups of 25 infants, each assessed at 12 months of age, were included in the study design: 1) noncocaine-exposed children residing with their biological parents in low socioeconomic environments, 2) cocaine-exposed children living with their biological parents in low socioeconomic environments, 3) noncocaine-exposed children adopted at birth in middle to upper-middle socioeconomic environments, and 4) cocaine-exposed children adopted at birth. Infants were assessed by the Uzgiris-Hunt Ordinal Scales of Infant Psychological Development, the Fagan Test of Infant Intelligence, and the Infant Monitoring Questionnaire. Height and head circumference were measured. Gender and ethnicity were controlled statistically. Significant differences were found in cognitive functioning, in fine motor development, and in physical growth between control and prenatally cocaine-exposed children. Adoption enhanced cognitive functioning and fine motor skills among infants not exposed to cocaine prenatally, but had no apparent effect on infants prenatally exposed to cocaine. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 12:417-428, 2000. Copyright 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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