Methamphetamine abuse during pregnancy and the risk of foster care placement in Thailand

Abstract Purpose This study aimed to examine characteristic and outcome of mothers and babies focusing on the teen-mothers and their existing risk-behaviors, also to evaluate factors associated with subsequent foster care placements of their infants. Method Data of all pregnant women, categorized as teens and non-teens, with history of methamphetamine abuse giving birth at Siriraj Hospital between August2003-December2011 were reviewed. Maternal demographic, characteristic of substance uses and neonatal outcome were collected. Chi-square, Fisher exact, Mann-whiney U test, and logistic regression were used to analyze where appropriate. The protocol was approved by Siriraj Hospital IRB. Results Overall 235 pregnant women, both groups’ characteristics were similar except number of life-time partners, contraception-use, smoking history and sexual risk behaviors (p Conclusion Characteristics and psychosocial outcome of methamphetamine abuse between teen and non-teen mothers were similar. History of methamphetamine use during pregnancy, positive meth-screen urine of mother and babies after birth were the noteworthy predictors to place the babies to foster parents. Clinical trials registry site and number This study was not a clinical trial research.