Women who use drugs are at increased risk of pregnancy-related complications, yet little is known about their experiences of accessing perinatal support. We sought to understand experiences and perceptions of pre- and post-natal care among women with experiences of injecting drug use through eleven qualitative interviews with women recruited from two cohort studies (SuperMIX & VMAX). We transcribed audio recordings verbatim and analysed data thematically. Women were aged 38-60 years and all but one had birthed children in their late teens and/or early adulthood. Testimonies illustrated unique challenges surrounding pre- and post-natal care among women who use illegal drugs such as fears of stigma and discrimination, gaps in critical information, and risk of child removal that prevented open communication. Findings highlight a need for accessible health information and improved, non-stigmatising healthcare access for mothers.
Pre and post-natal care experiences of women who inject drugs
Bek Petrovic | Research Fieldwork Coordinator, Burnet
Bek coordinates the alcohol and other drug research field work team at the Burnet, including the coordination of data collection for a community-recruited study of >1500 people who inject drugs in Melbourne. Bek has a special interest in women’s health research, particularly in the fields of pregnancy and childbirth.
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