NCJ Number
137770
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 16 Issue: 3 Dated: (1992) Pages: 317-328
Date Published
1992
Length
12 pages
Annotation
A sample of 24 drug-exposed children was compared with a group of 24 non-drug-exposed children who were matched on age, gender, and socioeconomic status to examine the relationship between prenatal exposure to drugs and parenting stress and child maltreatment.
Abstract
Results from the Parenting Stress Index showed that mothers who used drugs during their pregnancies reported higher levels of stress than foster mothers and comparison mothers on total parenting stress, child-related stress, and parent-related stress. Responses by the biological and foster mothers of drug-exposed infants showed higher scores on child-related stress including hyperactivity, distractibility, and adaptability. There was also a strong correlation between maternal drug use and child maltreatment; over 40 percent of the drug-exposed children in this study were in foster care, most often with their maternal grandmothers. Drug-using mothers need careful monitoring and intensive intervention by Child Protective Services. Pregnant drug-dependent women require greater access to comprehensive drug treatment programs, visiting nurses, early intervention programs, and center-based day care. 5 tables and 28 references