Developmental implications of prenatal opioid exposure among school-aged children: a mixed methods and community-initiated analysis

• Published in: BMC public health Vol. 23; no. 1; pp. 1 - 1815
• Main Authors: Wilkinson, Andra, Rackers, H. S, Harmon, T. M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BioMed Central Ltd 19-09-2023; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Adverse childhood experiences; Age; Analysis; Behavioral health care; Best practice; Birth defects; Caregivers; Child development; Child welfare; Childhood factors; Children; Community collaboration; Data analysis; Development; Empathy; Exposure; Families & family life; Focus groups; Health aspects; Infants; Magnetism; Methadone; Methods; Mixed methods; Mixed methods research; Narcotics; Neonatal abstinence syndrome; Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome; Neonates; Newborn babies; Opioids; Pregnancy; Pregnant women; Prenatal experience; Prenatal opioid exposure; Public health; Resilience; Substance abuse; Support groups; Surveys; Toddlers; Trends; West Virginia; Massachusetts; United States; United States > US
• ISSN: 1471-2458; 1471-2458
• DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16702-8

Abstract
Background
Growing research points to potential long-term developmental implications of prenatal opioid exposure for children. Yet, polysubstance use and adverse childhood experiences are raised as potential confounders. Further, there is a lack of data on school-age children and the children’s strengths.
Methods
Parents and caregivers of children with prenatal opioid exposure worked with the study team to design, collect, and descriptively analyze mixed method data. Data were collected through survey (
n
 = 148) and two focus groups (
n
 = 15) from a convenience sample in mostly West Virginia and Massachusetts.
Results
Nearly half of the children in the sample were diagnosed with multiple developmental delays, behavioral health conditions, and specific learning disorders. Roughly 85% of children have behavioral challenges. Associations between prenatal opioid exposure and negative developmental outcomes did not vary by type of opioid nor by polysubstance use, while controlling for adverse childhood experiences. Importantly, over 80% of families also reported their child’s strengths, including empathy, social magnetism, and their resilience.
Conclusions
The challenges for children born with prenatal opioid exposure may extend into school-age. The results are consistent with prior research on younger children, suggesting a need for best practices for caring for these children beyond the neonatal stage.