Psychoactive substance use and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic

Background: There is obvious change in the pattern of psychoactive substance use in this part of the world. The habit which was previously prerogative of adult males has now been extended to women. Women of reproductive age group, including pregnant ones now engage in the use of psychoactive substances, thereby exposing them and their unborn babies to various risks and dangers. Objectives: This study was carried out to determine the prevalence rate of use of psychoactive substances among pregnant women attending clinic in a teaching hospital, in a North-eastern State of Nigeria. Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey. The Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test questionnaires were administered to 320 pregnant women that came for antenatal care (ANC) by research assistants. Results: The prevalence of substance use among the respondents was 13.3%. Tobacco products in form of snuff and cigarette (34.7%), sedatives and over the counter sleeping pills (32.8%) were commonly abused substances. Opiates in form of tramadol and codeine-containing cough syrups were also common (14.0%). Proportions of respondents that consume alcoholic products were 12.4%, whereas the remaining percentages were for other substances such as cannabis and solvent. Fathers' uses as well as partners' uses of psychoactive substances were variables that were significantly associated with the substance use by pregnant women in this study. Conclusion: The proportion of pregnant women that uses psychoactive substances was high in this study, especially when the fathers or partners also abuse substances. Efforts should therefore be made to screen women coming for ANC to diagnose those with substance use habit and manage them appropriately.