Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 1, 2025
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Assessing the Impact of Prenatal Medication for Opioid Use Disorder on Discharge Home With Parents Among Infants With
Rosalyn Singleton1, Sara Rutz, Gretchen Day
1From the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Anchorage, AK (RS, GD, SW, CM); University of Washington, School of Medicine, Alaska WWAMI, Anchorage, AK (SR); Southcentral Foundation, Anchorage, AK (MH, MH, JS, MH); Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, Fairbanks, AK (LB); Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation, Bethel, AK (JP); Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation, Bethel, Alaska (CD); Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada (HP); British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada (HP, AS); School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada (AS).
Insights
Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) during pregnancy significantly increases the likelihood of infants with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) being discharged to parents in Alaska. This supports family unity and addresses the opioid epidemic.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Neonatal Care
- Substance Use Disorders
Background:
- Rising rates of maternal opioid use diagnoses correlate with increased neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) cases.
- Prenatal opioid exposure presents a significant challenge for healthcare systems, particularly in Alaska.
- Effective interventions are crucial to mitigate the impact on infants and families.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify factors linked to Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) in pregnant women.
- To assess the effect of prenatal MOUD on the discharge disposition of infants diagnosed with NOWS.
- To analyze outcomes in three Alaskan hospitals.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of infants with NOWS and their mothers.
- Data collected on maternal and neonatal characteristics, MOUD treatment, and infant discharge.
- Multivariable logistic regression used to determine factors associated with parental discharge.
Main Results:
- 193 infants with NOWS were identified out of 10,719 births.
- Nearly half (47.2%) of mothers received MOUD during pregnancy.
- Infants whose mothers received prenatal MOUD were 3.9 times more likely to be discharged to parents.
Conclusions:
- Prenatal MOUD is vital for maintaining family cohesion.
- MOUD is a key strategy in combating the opioid epidemic's effects on families and child welfare.
- Supporting pregnant women with opioid use disorder through MOUD benefits the broader community.
Objectives:
The number of women with opioid-related diagnoses in the United States has significantly increased in recent decades, resulting in concomitantly higher rates of infants born with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS). Addressing prenatal opioid exposure is a priority for Alaska health systems. The objectives of this study were to: (1) identify maternal and neonatal factors associated with receipt of Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and (2) determine the impact of prenatal MOUD on discharge to parents among infants with NOWS in 3 Alaska hospitals.
Methods:
A retrospective chart review using a standard abstraction form was conducted to collect data on neonatal and maternal characteristics, neonatal treatment, and infant discharge disposition for infants with NOWS born at the 3 hospitals between July 2016 and December 2019. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to determine factors associated with discharge to parents.
Results:
There were 10,719 births at the 3 hospitals during the study period, including 193 infants (1.8%) with NOWS. Among the 193 mothers, 91 (47.2%) received MOUD during pregnancy. Among infants with NOWS, 136 (70.5%) were discharged to parents, 51 (26.4%) were discharged to a relative or foster care. Infants were significantly (odds ratio 3.9) more likely to be discharged to parents if the mother had received prenatal MOUD.
Conclusions:
MOUD among pregnant women with opioid use disorder furthers the goal of keeping families together and is a critical step towards reducing the impact of the ongoing opioid epidemic on Alaska families, communities, and the child welfare system.
More Related Videos
05:13Preclinical Model of Prenatal Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Exposure to Assess Its Impact on Neurodevelopmental Outcomes
Published on: February 28, 2025
09:29Investigating Drivers of Antireward in Addiction Behavior with Anatomically Specific Single-Cell Gene Expression Methods
Published on: August 4, 2022
Related Concept Videos
01:21Factors Affecting Drug Response: Overview
01:23Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics
Antitussives include codeine, dextromethorphan (Robitussin), and benzonatate (Tessalon). Codeine and dextromethorphan exert their effects centrally by suppressing the cough reflex center in the medulla. Benzonatate operates peripherally within the respiratory tract by...
01:15Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids
01:20Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners
01:15Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena
01:24Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview