Scarce perinatal social support for women with OUD: Opportunities for doula services

Persons with opioid use disorder (OUD) often lack social support, which is associated with improved recovery outcomes.

In the last two decades, the rate of opioid use disorder (OUD) among pregnant people has quadrupled.

This study aimed to describe the prenatal and postpartum social support networks and needs of persons with OUD and assess perceived acceptability of community-based social supports such as doulas.

This mixed methods study utilized quantitative and qualitative data to understand social support structures and needs. Data was collected through surveys -demographics and social mapping; Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) tool; Connor Davidson Resilience 25-item (CDRS-25) scale- and a semi-structured interview. A total of 34 participants from a single urban opioid treatment program consented to participate.

Participants were on average 34.9 years old, White (64.7%), and unemployed (91.2%). Participants described small perinatal social support networks, which decreased in size from the prenatal to postpartum period. Only half (52.9%) reported adequate prenatal and postpartum social support. Doulas and peer recovery support specialists were perceived as valuable in perinatal health, social support, and recovery domains, with interest in doulas seen particularly amongst those with fewer reported supports.

The scarcity of prenatal and postpartum social support among persons with OUD is critical to address, given the increased risk of relapse during the postpartum period which has implications for the maternal child dyad.

Due to multiple disparities in prenatal and postpartum social support (small networks, inadequate support), doulas represent a trusted community-based support to be integrated into healthcare teams to address maternal morbidity/mortality associated with opioid use.