Psychosocial characteristics of pregnant women with and without a history of substance abuse.

This study was undertaken to identify the psychosocial characteristics and service needs of pregnant women with substance abuse histories. Two hundred and twenty-five pregnant women defined as having high-risk pregnancies for psychosocial reasons were interviewed using a structured questionnaire when they presented for prenatal care at a large urban clinic. Women who admitted to problems with substance abuse were compared to those who denied a history of substance abuse. Women with an admitted history of substance abuse were significantly older, had more children, were more likely to live on their own or in an institutional setting, and more frequently reported that they currently smoked cigarettes. In addition, women with substance abuse problems delayed prenatal care an average of one month longer. Other differences between the two groups, as well as the implications of the findings for social work practice in health care settings, are discussed.