Substance use during pregnancy and peripartum complications in a triethnic population

To study the effects of illicit drug use during pregnancy on maternal health, we reviewed the records of women who delivered at the University of Texas Medical Branch between June 1, 1989, and February 28, 1990, for peripartum history and results from drug urinalysis screens. After controlling for age at delivery, gravidity, race/ethnicity, and use of alcohol or tobacco, elevated relative risk estimates were observed among women who had positive urinalysis for syphilis, gonorrhea, pregnancy-induced hypertension, chorioamnionitis, asthma, and postpartum hemorrhage. These findings confirm that pregnant women who use illicit drugs are at increased risk for serious health complications.