Evaluation of drug use by pregnant women in a teaching hospital of the interior of Rio Grande do Sul

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The abuse and the drug addiction become an important public health problem, gaining even more emphasis when it comes to pregnant women, since almost all drugs cross the placenta and cause effects on the fetus, compromising their development. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of the drug use during pregnancy among mothers attended in a teaching hospital of the interior of the Rio Grande do Sul. Methods: It is a cross-sectional study of 314 mothers and their newborns, attended by the Unified Health System in the first half of 2014. Data collection occurred by analysis of medical records, application of semi structured questionnaires and interviews with mothers users of drugs of abuse. Results: It was noted that the most consumed substance was the alcohol, with 151 users (48.1%), followed by tobacco (44,6%). The most used illicit drug during pregnancy was marijuana (8.0%). Moreover, it was found that 53.8% of the sample had contact with smokers and there was a tendency for mothers to abandon illicit drugs earlier than lawful. Conclusion: Given the above, it highlights the importance of early screening for drug use during pregnancy and discussion on the part of health professionals with the community in order to make it more clear the harm that abuse drugs offer as well as the importance of abstinence during pregnancy.