Obstetrical and Neonatal Outcomes in Mothers Exposed to Amphetamines: A Retrospective Study from Thasala Hospital

Abstract

Background: Drug use among pregnant women is on the rise, leading to complications in the baby, which adversely affects various bodily systems, requires hospitalization, and increases medical expenses.

Objective: To study the effects of amphetamine, use in women on maternal and fetal complications.

Methods: This is a retrospective study of data from the medical records of Thasala Hospital. Data were collected from medical records of pregnant women who came to give birth and tested positive for amphetamine. Data was collected between June 1, 2024, and August 15, 2024, totaling 34 files. A control group was selected from pregnant women who came to give birth and had general characteristics like the study group, totaling 34 files. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square analysis, logistic regression analysis, and the Mann-Whitney U-test.

Results: Among mothers who used amphetamines, approximately 14.7% experienced withdrawal symptoms postpartum. For infants born to these mothers, 23.5% had sleep disturbances, and 44.1% exhibited frequent vomiting postpartum. Infants from the amphetamine-exposed group had significantly higher rates of jaundice, abnormal respiration, and need for oxygen supplementation, resuscitation, vomiting, lower birth weight and body length than those in the control group (p<0.05).

Conclusions: Amphetamine use during pregnancy is associated with lower maternal weight, anemia, lower birth weight in infants, jaundice, frequent vomiting, hypothermia, and extended hospital stays.

Keywords: Obstetrical outcomes, Maternal and child, amphetamine