PEDIATRICS Vol. 91 No. 2 February 1993, pp. 350-354
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Cocaine Use in Women From a Defined Population: Prevalence at Delivery and Effects on Growth in Infants

W. T. Weathers MD1, K. J. Sauvain RN, MS1, M. M. Crane PhD2, and D. W. Blackhurst MS2

1 From the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Education and Research, Greenville Hospital System
2 From the Department Research, Division of Medical Education and Research, Greenville Hospital System

Adverse health effects associated with intrauterine cocaine exposure (prematurity and its associated morbidity, intrauterine growth retardation, possible risk of sudden infant death syndrome) are based on studies from large urban hospitals, but few data exist from other sources. The current study, set in a community hospital, was designed to (1) estimate the prevalence of maternal cocaine use at delivery, (2) describe neonatal outcomes, and (3) evaluate physiological growth in exposed children. The study was conducted over 30 months (total births were 14 074) at The Children's Hospital of Greenville Memorial Hospital, the major source of neonatal care for Greenville County, South Carolina (1990 population: 320 000). A child was considered exposed to cocaine if there was documented evidence of use in the mother's medical record or if one member of the pair had a positive urine drug screen. Growth data were abstracted from clinical records. Overall prevalence of exposure was 1.0%. Of the 137 subjects (89, positive urine drug screen; 48 self-reported exposure), 21 (15%, 95% confidence interval, 9% to 21%) were premature (gestational age <37 weeks) and 2 died of sudden infant death syndrome. Mean age- and sex-adjusted percentiles for weight, length, and head circumference increased from 23%, 29%, and 18%, respectively, at birth to 43%, 49%, and 54% in children followed for 12 months; however, 50% of the cohort were lost to follow-up, and these children were smaller at birth than those under active follow-up. Rates of prematurity and infant death were similar to those reported in urban hospitals. These data support the concept that cocaine-exposed children can achieve expected growth levels by 1 year of age.

Key Words: cocaine • growth and development • prematurity • epidemiology • urine drug screen • low birth weight

Submitted on April 27, 1992
Accepted on August 18, 1992




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