RISK-FACTORS FOR DISRUPTION IN PRIMARY CAREGIVING AMONG INFANTS OF SUBSTANCE-ABUSING WOMEN

Citation
P. Nair et al., RISK-FACTORS FOR DISRUPTION IN PRIMARY CAREGIVING AMONG INFANTS OF SUBSTANCE-ABUSING WOMEN, Child abuse & neglect, 21(11), 1997, pp. 1039-1051
Citations number
52
Categorie Soggetti
Social Work
Journal title
ISSN journal
01452134
Volume
21
Issue
11
Year of publication
1997
Pages
1039 - 1051
Database
ISI
SICI code
0145-2134(1997)21:11<1039:RFDIPC>2.0.ZU;2-R
Abstract
Objective: To identify perinatal factors that are predictive of disrup tion in primary caregiving among infants of substance abusing women. M ethod: A randomized longitudinal cohort study. One hundred and fifty t wo mother/infant dyads were assessed for evidence of disruption of pri mary caregiving or neglect during the first 18 months of life, defined by mother's inability to provide care. Data analyzed included neonata l characteristics, urine toxicology at delivery, maternal history of d rug use, maternal depression, social support, and social and health hi story. Results: Sixty-six infants (43.4%) had disruption in their prim ary care during the first 18 months of their life, 86 infants (56.6%) remained in the care of their mothers. Women who were younger, were he roin users, had two or more children, had other children in foster car e, and reported depressive symptoms were least likely to provide ongoi ng primary care for their infant. Conclusions: Although all infants bo rn to substance abusing women are at a high risk for disruption in the continuity of their primary caregiving, maternal demographic and psyc hosocial factors present at delivery can predict which infants are lik ely to experience an early disruption in their primary caregiving. Ide ntifying these families can enable health care providers to monitor th em more closely and, when appropriate, encourage support from the exte nded family. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.