The Prevalence of Substance Abuse and its Relationship with Demographic Factors among Pregnant Women

Substance abuse during pregnancy has serious side effects on mothers and her baby. The aim of this study was to determine the relative frequency of substance abuse in pregnant women in Isfahan City, Iran.

This was a cross-sectional analytical research. 400 pregnant women referred to midwifery clinics in Isfahan were randomly selected. Demographic data of pregnant women as well as the history of substance abuse were collected through face-to-face interviews using a researcher-made checklist. Substance abuse of pregnant women was assessed by urine screening tests.

In this study, 400 pregnant women with a mean age of 30.2 years were included. Urine sample test was negative for drugs or stimulants in 94.5% of mothers and positive in 5.5%. Pregnant women with a positive history of substance abuse had significant differences in terms of occupation, maternal smoking, spouse addiction, the presence of an addicted person in first-degree relatives, method of use in first-degree relatives, and positive urine test compared to pregnant mothers without substance abuse history.

The prevalence of substance abuse among pregnant women in Isfahan was estimated to be about 5.5% based on urine screening test. This is near the prevalence rate of substance abuse among pregnant women reported in other studies in the country. The frequency of positive urine test for substance abuse was higher than the frequency announced in face-to-face interviews with pregnant women.