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Prenatal Substance Exposure and Child Maltreatment: A Systematic Review
Anna E Austin1,2, Caitlin Gest1, Alexandra Atkeson1
1359831Department of Maternal and Child Health, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Child Maltreatment
|February 8, 2021
Summary
Prenatal substance exposure is linked to a higher risk of child maltreatment and involvement with child protective services. Further research is needed to understand this association fully.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Social Work
Background:
- Policies on substance use during pregnancy are evolving.
- Child protective services (CPS) involvement is a key consideration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and evaluate literature on prenatal substance exposure and child maltreatment.
- To inform practice, policy, and future research.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive electronic literature search across multiple databases.
- Included 30 studies examining various substance exposures (e.g., opioids, alcohol, marijuana) and child maltreatment.
- Critically evaluated methodological factors like definitions and confounding variables.
Main Results:
- Substance-exposed infants showed increased likelihood of CPS involvement.
- Higher rates of maternal-reported maltreatment risk and suspected maltreatment hospitalizations/visits were observed.
- Adolescents with prenatal substance exposure reported higher rates of retrospective maltreatment.
Conclusions:
- Prenatal substance exposure is associated with an increased risk of child maltreatment.
- Methodological limitations necessitate careful interpretation of findings.
- Further research is crucial for informing effective programs and policies.
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