Citation

Sarkola T, Gissler M, Kahila H, Autti-Rämö I, Halmesmäki E. Acta Paediatr. 2012; 101(7): 784-790.

Affiliation

Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Central Hospital, POB 281, FIN-00029, Helsinki, Finland THL National Institute for Health and Welfare, POB 30, FIN-00271, Helsinki, Finland and Nordic School of Public Health, Gothenburg, Sweden Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, POB 140, FIN-00029, Helsinki, Finland The Social Insurance Institution (SII), Research Department, Nordenskiöldinkatu 12, FIN-00250, Helsinki, Finland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1651-2227.2012.02670.x

PMID

22429257

Abstract

Aim:  To study the relations between postnatal maternal morbidity, child morbidity and welfare interventions in families with prenatal alcohol or substance abuse. Methods:  A register-based longitudinal retrospective cohort study. The exposed cohort included 638 children born to 524 women followed-up during pregnancy for alcohol or substance abuse 1992-2001. Non-exposed children (n=1914) born to control women were matched for maternal age, parity, number of fetuses, month of birth, and delivery hospital of the index child. Perinatal and follow-up data of both cohorts was collected from national registers until 2007. Results:  Postnatal maternal abuse-related health care utilization and use of medication was associated with child out-of-home care. Significant differences were in particular observed in the categories of maternal mental and behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substance use as well as injury and poisoning. Maternal inpatient care for mental and behavioral disorders peaked at the time of child out-of-home care. Maternal abuse-related health care utilization was associated with early child health care utilization and use of medication for mental and behavioral disorders. These associations were largely explained by the association with child out-of-home care. Conclusions:  Postnatal maternal abuse-related morbidity is associated with significant early child morbidity, use of medication, and timing of out-of-home care. © 2012 The Author(s)/Acta Paediatrica © 2012 Foundation Acta Paediatrica.

Language: en