Midwives are being called to serve a growing population of vulnerable women, those with substance use disorders (SUDs). Increasing numbers of women across the lifespan are being diagnosed with SUDs. In addition, women with SUDs are experiencing very unique and distinct differences in stigma related to their substance use. This stigma is coming from varied sources and through many different forms including mislabeling, misinformation, the media, and a devalued maternal/child relationship. Mothers frequently experience different types of adverse health encounters during the perinatal and postpartum period that also contribute to stigma. Midwives are positioned to provide woman-centered care in a variety of practice settings as integral members of interprofessional teams. Midwives can decrease the stigma women with SUDs are experiencing while improving the health of women, mothers, and families worldwide.
ChouJ.PierceK.PenningtonL.SeilerR.MichaelJ.McNamaraD.ZandD. (2018).
Social support, family empowerment, substance use, and perceived parenting. Competency during pregnancy for women with substance use disorders. Substance Use & Misuse,
53(13), 2250–2256. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2018.1467456
7.
CockroftJ.AdamsS.BonnetK.MatlockD.McMillanJ.SchlundtD. (2019). “
A scarlet letter”: Stigma and other factors affecting trust in the health care system for women seeking substance abuse treatment in a community setting. Substance Abuse,
40(2), 170–177.
8.
FrazerZ.McConnellK.JanssonL. (2019).
Treatment for substance use disorders in pregnant women: Motivators and barriers. Drug and Alcohol Dependence,
205, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.107652
9.
GreenfieldS.BackS.LawsonK.BradyK. (2010).
Substance abuse in women. The Psychiatric Clinics of North America,
33(2), 339–355. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psc.2010.01.004
KingT.BruckerM.OsborneK.JevittC. (2019). Varney’s midwifery (6th ed.).
Jones & Bartlett Learning.
12.
MelchiorH.HüsingP.GrundmannJ.LotzinA.HillerP.PanY.DriessenM.ScherbaumN.SchneiderB.HillemacherT.StolzenburgS.SchomerusG.SchäferI.Cansas Study Group, (2019).
Substance abuse-related self-stigma in women with substance use disorder and comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder. European Addiction Research,
25, 20–29. https://doi.org/10.1159/000496113
MurphyJ.GoodmanD.JohnsonC.TerplanM. (2018).
The comprehensive addiction and recovery act: Opioid use disorder and midwifery practice. Obstetrics & Gynecology,
131, 542–544. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000002493
RenbargerK.ShiehC.MoormanM.Latham-MintusK.DrauckerC. (2019). Health care encounters of pregnant and postpartum women with substance use disorders. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1177/0193945919893372
17.
Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada. (2017).
SOGC Clinical Practice Guideline No. 349: Substance use in pregnancy. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada,
39(10), 922–937. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogc.2017.04.028
18.
StringerK.BakerE. (2018).
Stigma as a barrier to substance abuse treatment among those with unmet need: An analysis of parenthood and marital status. Journal of Family Issues,
39(1), 3–27. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X15581659
TarasoffL.MilliganK.LeT.UsherA.UrbanoskiK. (2018).
Integrated treatment. programs for pregnant and parenting women with problematic substance use: Service descriptions and client perceptions of care. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment,
90, 9–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat
