Crack abuse during pregnancy: maternal, fetal and neonatal complication

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of crack on pregnancy outcomes.

METHODS:

We studied 88 crack user pregnant women in this study. These women were matched to a drug-free group (n = 90) chosen from the population of the same hospital. Maternal outcomes including preeclampsia, placenta abruption, gestational diabetes and preterm labor, and neonatal complication including low birth weight and low Apgar score in 5 min were compared in crack using and drug-free groups. Data were analyzed by SPSS software. Chi-square test and Student's t-test and Relative Risks (RRs) were used in this study.

RESULTS:

The results of our study showed that crack abuse during pregnancy was associated with higher rate of preeclampsia p = 0.003 (RR, 1.731; 95% CI, 1.777-2.545), placental abruption p = 0.001 (RR, 2.439; 95% CI, 1.369-4.343), preterm labor p < 0.000 (RR, 3.249; 95% CI, 2.053-5.141) and low birth weight p < 0.000 (RR, 2.179; 95% CI, 1.462-3.247).

CONCLUSIONS:

Crack abuse had significant influence on pregnancy outcomes. Crack appears to influence the prevalence of low birth weight, preterm labor, preeclampsia and placental abruption.