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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Benita Walton-Moss, DNS¹, Jessica Conrad, MSN¹, and Linda McIntosh, PhD, RN². (1) School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, 525 North Wolfe Street Rm 427, Baltimore, MD 21205, 410-955-1290, bmoss@son.jhmi.edu, (2) School of Nursing, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, 1601 East Market Street, Greensboro, NC 27411

Knowledge of factors specific to high-risk populations is critical to effective intervention programs to improve adequate and timely prenatal care. This secondary analysis of an investigation of birth outcomes in drug dependent women determines factors associated with delayed (i.e., 3rd trimester) prenatal care entry among women in comprehensive drug treatment. Consenting women, interviewed during their first week of treatment, included 155 women (48% Caucasian, 52% African American, average age 31 years) who were primarily heroin or cocaine dependent. Nearly 20% of women delayed prenatal care with greater numbers of African American women compared to Caucasian women. After bivariate analyses, significant variables were entered into a multiple logistic regression. Due to a preponderance of African American women in the sample older than 30 years and Caucasian women younger than 30 years, separate analyses were conducted for each group. Older age and no lifetime history of physical abuse were significantly associated with delayed prenatal care for Caucasian women. Younger age, fewer prior drug treatment episodes, greater number of pregnancies and children living with the woman and no lifetime history of suicide attempts were associated with delayed care for African American women.This analysis points to the need for further identification, discussion and a better understanding of risk factors and interventions that impact this high-risk group of women.

This grant was supported by 5P20NR008375 PI: Fannie Gaston-Johansson Dr.Med.Sc, RN, FAAN

Learning Objectives:

• Identify risk factors associated with delayed prenatal care among African American drug dependent women compared to Caucasian women.
• Discuss the implications of differential risk factors associated with delayed prenatal care for health care providers.

Keywords: Drug Addiction, Prenatal Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered

Handout (.ppt format, 59.0 kb)