Degree Name
DrPH (Doctor of Public Health)
Program
Public Health
Date of Award
5-2024
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
David A. Shoham
Committee Members
Megan Quinn, Kate Beatty, Darshan Shah
Abstract
Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is a drug withdrawal syndrome exhibited by infants born to mothers with opioid use disorder (OUD). The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and other professional societies endorse opioid agonist pharmacotherapy (MATs) as the optimal treatment for OUD during pregnancy. This study focuses on impact of weaning of MAT drugs on the incidence of NAS and neonatal birth outcomes among babies born to women with opioid exposure.
The study population included eighty-six pregnant women with OUD, divided in to weaning and non-weaning groups based on their choice to wean the MATs during pregnancy. Univariate analysis was performed between the clinical and demographic variables of both groups. Multivariate analysis was performed to find the association between outcome variables and predictor variables. All analyses were conducted using SAS version 9.4.
The study identified a significant negative correlation (p-value: 0.0099) between weaning from MATs and NAS incidence. The study showed significant correlations of weaning with shorter LOS (p-value: 0.0036) and higher birth weights (p-value: 0.0408). Weaning emerged as a significant predictor for decreasing the incidence of NAS and improving the neonatal outcomes. Logistic regression confirmed weaning as a protective factor (odds ratio: 4.881 CI: 1.3, 18.1).
The intricacies of weaning of MATs in the context of OUD during pregnancy present profound health and ethical considerations for both mothers and infants. The investigation into NAS incidence among infants born to women with OUD revealed a significant association with weaning from MATs during pregnancy. The study highlights the potential benefits of weaning, offering insights into optimized neonatal care and efficient healthcare resource utilization.
Document Type
Dissertation - embargo
Recommended Citation
Adelli, Rakesh, "Influence of Medication Assisted Treatment Weaning on Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome and Outcomes Among Infants Born to Women with Opioid Use Disorder" (2024). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 4381. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/4381
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.
Included in
Epidemiology Commons, Obstetrics and Gynecology Commons, Pediatrics Commons, Substance Abuse and Addiction Commons, Women's Health Commons