Prevalence of maternal substance use problems during pregnancy and the first 2 years of life: a whole-population birth cohort of 970 470 Australian children born 2008–2017
During the first 1000 days of life, 3.4% of NSW children had ≥1 maternal substance use problem recorded in health, child protection and death data sources. Child protection data enhance public health intelligence on the burden of maternal substance use problems among whole child populations. Near universal health system contact during pregnancy and birth is an opportunity to initiate early support for maternal substance use and co-occurring health and social disadvantage, to promote child health and development.
Authors
- Tasnia Ahmed (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3726-2322)
- Timothy Dobbins (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1841-9056)
- BJ Newton (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2299-4029)
- John Lynch (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2781-7902)
- Kathleen Falster (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2035-5485)
- Madeleine Powell (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2992-9900)
- Alys Havard (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6563-8804)
- Rhiannon Pilkington (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6974-8496)
- Mark Hanly (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9279-7453)
- Michelle Cretikos
- Jessica Stewart (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8242-8613)
Institutions
- New South Wales Department of Health (AU)
- UNSW Sydney (AU)
- NSW Department of Communities and Justice (AU)
- The University of Adelaide (AU)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health
- Published
- 2025-03-24
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2024-223439
- Citations
- 4
- Primary Topic
- Prenatal Substance Exposure Effects
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 13.98
Funders
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre