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APPENDIX FOUR
DRUG MISUSE IN PREGNANCY
Overview of Drug Misuse in Pregnancy
- In 2001/02, of an estimated total of 49,790
maternities recorded, there were 238 cases where the
mother had a diagnosis of drug misuse (4.8 per 1,000
maternities).
- Of the 238 cases where a diagnosis of drug misuse
was recorded the majority of mothers (155 or 65%) were
aged between 20 and 29 years and 30 were aged under 20
years.
- Of the 242 births where a diagnosis of drug misuse
was recorded, the majority (161 or 67%) were full-term
normal birthweight. This compares to the all-births
figure of 90% of births (45,370), which were recorded
as full-term normal birthweight.
- In 2001/02, there were a total of 14,185 neonatal
discharges in Scotland, of which 257 included a
diagnosis of drug misuse (18.1 per 1,000 discharges).
It should be noted that neonatal discharge information
is only recorded for babies who require medical care or
who have a congenital anomaly.
5-Year Trends
- The number of maternities where the mother had a
diagnosis of drug misuse has increased from 139 in
1997/98 to 238 in 2001/02. This conflicts with a fall
in the number of all maternities within the same time
period, from 57,567 to 49,790.
- The rate of maternities where the mother had a
diagnosis of drug misuse has increased from 2.4 per
1,000 maternities in 1997/98 to 4.8 per 1,000
maternities in 2001/02.
- The number of neonatal discharges recording drug
misuse has increased from 217 in 1997/98 to 257 in
2001/02. As with the maternity discharges, this
conflicts with the decreasing trend in all neonatal
discharges (17,269 in 1997/98 to 14,185 in
2001/02).
- The rate of neonatal discharges recording drug
misuse diagnoses (per 1,000 discharges) was 18.1 in
2001/02. This has increased from 1997/98 (12.6 per
1,000 discharges).
Drugs Recorded
• The most commonly reported drug type for maternities
recording drug misuse was opioids. Of the 238 cases, 138
(58%) recorded opioids.
Source: Scottish Drug Misuse Database.
Information Services,
NHS National Services
Scotland.
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