Citation

Pelham TL, DeJong AR. Child Abuse Negl. 1992; 16(5): 763-770.

Affiliation

Department of Pediatrics, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1992, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

1393735

Abstract

Questionnaires surveying policies and opinions about prenatal cocaine abuse were sent to training programs nationwide. Eighty-one pediatric and 81 obstetric programs from 42 states responded. Although respondents favored routinely screening all patients by maternal history (81%) and by urine toxicology (36%), only 64% and 8%, respectively, reported these as established policy. Physicians reporting higher regional prenatal cocaine abuse rates more commonly favored universal perinatal screening (p = .009), but established policies were similar regardless of local prevalence (p = .19). Fifty-two percent of respondents were unaware of their state's requirements for reporting prenatal cocaine abuse. While most physicians favored interventions such as voluntary drug rehabilitation (64%) and family support services (64%), some physicians favored foster care placement for the infants (28%) and involuntary drug rehabilitation (31%). Only 3% felt that criminal prosecution of the mother was appropriate. Policies for managing prenatal cocaine abuse often did not reflect physicians' opinions. A multidisciplinary medical, social, and legal approach is needed to develop effective management policies.

Language: en