Prevalence of Illicit Drug use during Pregnancy between Teenage and Non-teenage in Thailand
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Abstract
Objectives: The primary outcome was to compare the prevalence of illicit drug use during pregnancy between teenage and non-teenage. The secondary outcomes were to investigate the possible factors predicting of illicit drug use before and during pregnancy and also to compare the incidence of adverse maternal/neonatal outcomes and overall adverse pregnancy outcomes between the participants who had a history of illicit drug use during pregnancy and those who did not.
Materials and Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Medical center, Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand, between September 2024 and May 2025. The participants were asked to complete a questionnaire to provide their information.
Results: 310 participants were enrolled. The prevalence of participants who had a history of any illicit drug use before pregnancy was 50/62 (80.6%) and 170/248 (68.5%) in the teenage and non-teenage group, respectively. Teenage pregnancy was not actually found to be a factor that predicted the risk of illicit drug use during pregnancy (adjusted odds ratio 0.716, 95%CI 0.305, 1.682, p = 0.443), while a lower educational level (junior high school or lower), more than 7-hour social media use per day, and age at first sexual intercourse were statistically significantly associated with illicit drug use. Adverse neonatal outcomes were significantly higher in the participants who had a history of illicit drug use during pregnancy than those who did not.
Conclusion: Prevalence of illicit drug use during pregnancy in teenage was not different from in non-teenage. Teenagers alone were not at risk of engaging in illicit drug use. A level of education of junior high school or lower, more than 7 hours per day social media use, and a young age at first sexual intercourse were significant factors associated with a higher prevalence of illicit drug use during pregnancy.
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