Barriers to Substance Use Treatment in Pregnant Populations: A Literature Review and Patient Perspectives in Detroit

Introduction: Substance use during pregnancy is one of the leading preventable causes of pregnancy-associated mortality in Michigan, yet pregnant individuals who use substances are less likely to access prenatal care or substance use disorder (SUD) treatment relative to other pregnant people, leading to worse outcomes for the parent and fetus. Understanding the barriers to treatment that pregnant people with SUD face is essential to improving health outcomes and access to care. The aim of this project is to identify accessibility barriers to substance use treatment in pregnant populations through a literature review and key informant interviews with individuals who misused substances during pregnancy in the Detroit area. Methods: A comprehensive literature review will be performed using PubMed. Studies will be included if they (1) explore barriers to substance use treatment during pregnancy and (2) were published within the last 15 years. Findings will be used to develop a model of barriers to treatment. The model will additionally be evaluated by collecting interview data with 10 parents impacted by SUD during pregnancy, recruited through community-based treatment centers. Transcripts will be coded and themes will be examined to further refine the proposed model of barriers to care for pregnant people with SUD. Results: Data collection and analysis are in progress and expected to be completed before the symposium. Conclusion: Results will be used to create and refine a comprehensive model of barriers to accessing care for pregnant people with SUD. Findings can guide future research focused on improving accessibility, thus improving health outcomes within specific communities.