Qom University of Medical Sciences Journal

Background and Objectives: Today, drug abuse is one of the major health problems that put many population groups, such as mothers and their newborns, at serious risk. This study aimed to determine the association between drug abuse and duration of exclusive breastfeeding in the mothers of Sabzevar city.

Methods: In this study that was performed as a cohort study, 81 pregnant women were assigned to two groups of drug abuse (n=41) and non-drug-abuse (n=40), which eventually 6 crystal- and crack-addicted mothers were excluded due to breastfeeding ban. A purposive non-probability sampling was done and the duration of exclusive breastfeeding was studied at 2, 4, and 6 months of age. Data collection was done using questionnaire, and data analysis was done using indices of mean and standard deviation and inferential statistics chi-square at the significance level of p<0.05. Confidence coefficient was considered to be 95%.

Results:In this study, the type of drug used by 53.7% of mothers was opium, 22% opium sap, 4.9% opium and opium sap, 4.9% methadone, 9.7% crystal, and 4.8% crack. Also, 31.4% of drug abusing mothers had exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months. While, in the non-drug-abuse group, 85% of mothers had exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months. Also, the exclusive breastfeeding status at 2, 4, and 6 months of age was significantly statistically different between the two groups (p<0.001).

Conclusion:According to the results of this study, drug abuse by mother during pregnancy and lactation can reduce the duration of exclusive breastfeeding, therefore, preventive educational programs during pregnancy should focus on reduction and elimination of use of such drugs.