Author/Editor		Bregant, L; Pestevšek, M; Verdenik, I
Title		Pregled zlorabe drog v nosečnosti v Sloveniji v letih med 1997 in 2001
Translated title		Data analysis of illicit drugs abuse in pregnancy in Slovenia in years 1997-2001
Type		članek
Source		In: Gregorič A, editor. Nutritivna alergija. Farmakologija perinatalnega obdobja. Skrb za zdravje v prvem letu življenja. Zbornik predavanj 13. srečanje pediatrov v Mariboru z mednarodno udeležbo; 2003 apr 4-5; Maribor. Maribor: Splošna bolnišnica Maribor,
Publication year		2003
Volume		str. 121-5
Language		slo
Abstract		Background. A retrograde analysis was performed to ascertain the health and social characteristics of Slovene mothers taking illicit drugs during pregnancy. Additionally, we aimed to establish the effects of these drugs on the newborn. Patients and methods. The analysis involved newborns born in Slovenia in the period 1997-2001, who were discharged from the maternity hospital with the diagnosis of'neonatal abstinence syndrome' or 'irritability of the newborn; whose mothers were illicit drug users during pregnancy. We found 32 pairs of mother-newborn, who fulfilled the above-mentioned inclusion criteria. The results of the study group were compared to the data collected in the NPIS. Results. The mean age of Slovene drug users at delivery was 22.75 years, which is 5 years less than the Slovene average. Almost every fifth mother (18.7%) was less than 20 years of age. Most mothers were single (62.5%) or living in co-habitation (15.6%). Their educational level was low, with most (31.3%) having completed a vocational school or not been trained in any profession (21.9%). The highest educational level achieved was secondary school. Of the 32 mothers, 75% were cigarette smokers. Among the newborns, there were more preterm babies than the Slovene average, intrauterine growth retardation was 4-times higher and their birth weight was lower than that of babies born to cigarette smokers not taking drugs. Congenital malformations were not found. Babies born to drug addicts usually require treatment in the early neonatal period; 40% were admitted to paediatric units of regional hospitals or intensive care units of tertiary centres. The percentage of breast-fed babies born to drug addicts was almost half the Slovene average. Conclusions. eabies, exposed to illicit drugs in the uterus, are often retarded in growth and require intensive medical care during the first days of life. Most mothers are young, single and living hazardous lives.
Descriptors		SUBSTANCE ABUSE PRENATAL EXPOSURE DELAYED EFFECTS NEONATAL ABSTINENCE SYNDROME PREGNANCY SLOVENIA