Abstract
AIMS: This study characterizes treatment-seeking female users of illicit drugs in Finland, and examines possible differences among women with or without children under 18.
METHODS: The subjects were 2526 drug-using clients from the Helsinki metropolitan area, who sought treatment at Helsinki Deaconess Institute between 2001 and 2008. A total of 775 (30.6%) were females with complete information regarding their parental status. Of these, 225 (29%) had children under 18. The proportion of women with children varied between 20% and 30% annually, except in 2006, when it peaked at 40.5%.
RESULTS: Women with children were more likely to be somewhat older (p<0.001), married or cohabiting (p<0.001), homeless (p=0.007), unemployed (p<0.001), and living with other illicit drug users (p=0.014), compared with those without children. Self-referral and referral to treatment by child healthcare services were more common among those who had children (p<0.001). A higher proportion of women with children reported use of opiates as the primary drug (p<0.001), and used them more often intravenously (p=0.001), and daily (p=0.007), during the previous month. However, polydrug use (p=0.607) and sharing of needles/syringes (p=0.945) were similar in both groups. Prevalence of hepatitis B and C (p=0.041 and p<0.001, respectively) were more common in females with children. Among women who had children, 34.2% had children living within the same household, 37.3% in foster care, and 22.7% elsewhere.
CONCLUSIONS: Women with children had more risky drug consumption patterns, and were more likely to live with other drug users; this creates an unhealthy environment for child rearing.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 221-8 |
Journal | Scandinavian Journal of Public Health |
Volume | 43 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 01 May 2015 |
Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
© 2015 the Nordic Societies of Public Health.Keywords
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Family Characteristics
- Female
- Finland
- Humans
- Illicit Drugs
- Middle Aged
- Mothers/psychology
- Patient Acceptance of Health Care/statistics & numerical data
- Risk-Taking
- Substance-Related Disorders/psychology
- Young Adult