Perinatal Naloxone Care Practices: Survey Results From Persons With OUD and Providers

Little is known about naloxone care practices for peripartum persons from the patient or provider perspectives. The objective of this study was to survey peripartum persons and providers about naloxone-related practices.

Individuals who had an OUD diagnosis during a pregnancy and Ohio healthcare professionals who provide care for peripartum patients with OUD and/or infants with prenatal exposure to opioids were eligible for this study. Patient experiences were assessed through a survey codeveloped with members with lived experience of opioid use disorder. Provider perspectives were examined through a survey codeveloped by the Ohio Perinatal Quality Collaborative. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to examine the proportion of participants who received or provided naloxone care practices and the effect on having a naloxone kit during the perinatal period.

Of the 100 peripartum participants with opioid use disorder, 24% reported receiving naloxone from their prenatal care provider and 48% reported ever having a naloxone kit during the perinatal period. Of the 63 maternal care provider participants, 32 (49%) reported discussing or prescribing naloxone to pregnant patients. Of the 62 pediatric provider participants, 10 (16%) reported that they provide naloxone information to parenting individuals of their patients.

Study results demonstrate critical gaps in naloxone care practices for peripartum persons, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions at the patient, clinician, practice, and system levels.