Strengthening the standard of care for perinatal substance use disorders: reproductive health provider perspectives on training, integration, and system improvements.

OBJECTIVE/

BACKGROUND

Although perinatal substance use disorders (PSUDs) are increasingly prevalent among pregnant and postpartum (PPP) individuals, there is limited understanding of physicians’ perspectives on training needs and gaps in PSUD treatment. To reduce the negative impact of SUD on PPPs, identifying critical areas of intervention related to education and awareness for screening and treating PSUDs is critical. This study explored reproductive healthcare professionals’ (RHPs) perspectives on the necessary training to improve care for PPPs with PSUDs.

METHODS

This study is an analysis of a cross-sectional survey of RHPs (n = 117). Inductive thematic analysis was conducted on free-text survey responses to identify RHP perspectives on training needs and strategies for improving care for PPP with SUD. Analyses were performed using Atlas.ti V 24.1.

RESULTS

Participants were mostly White (77.8%) and female (93.2%) and included a broad sample of RHPs across multiple disciplines. Three primary themes were generated: (1) improving equitable access to evidence-based training, (2) prioritization of an integrated care network, and (3) addressing stigma in how care is delivered. DISCUSSION: The themes elicited from provider responses offer a framework for understanding opportunities to enhance care for PSUDs. Providers emphasized the need for more equitable access to evidence-based training to better equip clinicians to deliver high-quality care. They also described the importance of strengthening integrated care networks through collaboration among multidisciplinary professionals to improve care coordination and patient experiences. Addressing stigma in care delivery was identified as essential for fostering a more supportive treatment environment. These insights reflect provider perspectives and perceived priorities for system-level improvement rather than evaluated outcomes of specific interventions. Future research should examine the effectiveness of existing training and care models and identify strategies to enhance their accessibility and impact.