"Love in open spaces": mothers with problematic substance use and their infants

The majority of women with problematic substance use are mothers. While prevalence is difficult to establish, five percent is a fairly consistent figure of illicit drug use during pregnancy in Australia, the US and the UK.... [ view full abstract ]

The majority of women with problematic substance use are mothers. While prevalence is difficult to establish, five percent is a fairly consistent figure of illicit drug use during pregnancy in Australia, the US and the UK. Driven by concern for their unborn infant, pregnancy is the first time many women seek treatment. Unsurprisingly, pregnancy is sometimes referred to as “a window of opportunity” in which women re-evaluate drug use and many strive to become abstinent or, at the very least, change their drug habits for the benefit of the unborn baby. Yet, despite the benefits of treatment and support, many women with problematic substance use come to the attention of child protection authorities in the postnatal period, often following reports of domestic violence. This group of women typically becomes the “convenience sample” drawn upon in studies about women with problematic substance use and their infants. The women who do well with their infant tend to remain a hidden population, which means the factors in a good outcome for mothers and infants largely remain unknown.

This presentation reports the findings of a prospective case study of twenty women accessing a specialist alcohol and other drug obstetric provider with close links to the statutory child protection service. Data sources included semi-structured interviews with mothers at infant age six weeks, six months and one year. Structured interviews were held with obstetric counsellors at infant age six weeks and with child protection workers for women involved with the service at infant age six weeks, six months and one year. In addition, the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire was administered with mothers at each study phase. The presentation will report the perspectives of counsellors and child protection workers, while privileging the voice of mothers.