Changes in Mental Health and Insurance Coverage Status Among Women Reporting Opioid Use During Pregnancy in Tennessee and Kentucky
Abstract
The CDC advises against opioid use during pregnancy due to its severe risks to maternal and fetal health. For mothers, opioid use increases the risk of overdoses, potentially leading to death, and raises the likelihood of serious pregnancy complications. For infants, opioid exposure in the womb can result in poor growth, birth defects, and neonatal abstinence syndrome, causing withdrawal symptoms. Opioids are not recommended in pregnancy; however, they are still being used in certain situations which may correlate with various mental health and socioeconomic factors such as insurance coverage. To assess insurance coverage and mental health changes among pregnant women in the U.S., a secondary analysis of the CDC Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) was conducted. Fully deidentified datasets from the most recent PRAMS Phase 8 survey and a supplementary dataset directly pertaining to opioid use during pregnancy were analyzed in SPSS Version 29 with Complex Samples Add-On to evaluate differences between respondents who reported opioid use during pregnancy and those who did not. When comparing responses for a change in insurance throughout pregnancy, there were no significant differences in insurance status before and during pregnancy for women who reported taking opioids compared to those who did not. Surprisingly, women who reported opioid use during pregnancy were significantly more likely to be insured after pregnancy (P<0.001). Additionally, mothers using opioids during pregnancy reported significantly higher rates of depression before (P=0.016) and during pregnancy (P=0.034) than mothers who reported no use of opioids during pregnancy. The findings of this study contribute to our understanding of perinatal insurance coverage and mental health changes among women who report using opioids during pregnancy. It is important to understand gaps this population may experience in accessing appropriate medical care during and after pregnancy and receiving the support they may need.
Start Time
16-4-2025 1:30 PM
End Time
16-4-2025 4:00 PM
Presentation Type
Poster
Presentation Category
Health
Student Type
Clinical Doctoral Student (e.g., medical student, pharmacy student)
Faculty Mentor
KariLynn Dowling-McClay
Faculty Department
Pharmacy Practice
Changes in Mental Health and Insurance Coverage Status Among Women Reporting Opioid Use During Pregnancy in Tennessee and Kentucky
The CDC advises against opioid use during pregnancy due to its severe risks to maternal and fetal health. For mothers, opioid use increases the risk of overdoses, potentially leading to death, and raises the likelihood of serious pregnancy complications. For infants, opioid exposure in the womb can result in poor growth, birth defects, and neonatal abstinence syndrome, causing withdrawal symptoms. Opioids are not recommended in pregnancy; however, they are still being used in certain situations which may correlate with various mental health and socioeconomic factors such as insurance coverage. To assess insurance coverage and mental health changes among pregnant women in the U.S., a secondary analysis of the CDC Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) was conducted. Fully deidentified datasets from the most recent PRAMS Phase 8 survey and a supplementary dataset directly pertaining to opioid use during pregnancy were analyzed in SPSS Version 29 with Complex Samples Add-On to evaluate differences between respondents who reported opioid use during pregnancy and those who did not. When comparing responses for a change in insurance throughout pregnancy, there were no significant differences in insurance status before and during pregnancy for women who reported taking opioids compared to those who did not. Surprisingly, women who reported opioid use during pregnancy were significantly more likely to be insured after pregnancy (P<0.001). Additionally, mothers using opioids during pregnancy reported significantly higher rates of depression before (P=0.016) and during pregnancy (P=0.034) than mothers who reported no use of opioids during pregnancy. The findings of this study contribute to our understanding of perinatal insurance coverage and mental health changes among women who report using opioids during pregnancy. It is important to understand gaps this population may experience in accessing appropriate medical care during and after pregnancy and receiving the support they may need.