Early interactions between drug-involved mothers and infants: within-group differences

Article Abstract:

Cocaine use by the mother does not always mean severe social and developmental problems in the child. Thirty-two mother-infant pairs participating in an intervention program to meet social and developmental needs were evaluated for the quality of the home environment and the infant's development. All but two women were black and unemployed. Three-quarters were not married and three-quarters had male partners who were drug users. Nearly half the infants were born preterm. Mean infant developmental scores at one year were within normal range. Home environment scores were comparable to scores of families of similar socioeconomic status. Older, more educated mothers, mothers whose partners were not drug users, and mothers more actively involved in the program provided higher quality home environments. Higher quality home environments were reflected in higher infant developmental scores. These results do not imply that these children are free of problems nor that problems will not manifest as the child grows older.

Measurement, Children of alcoholics

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What is important about a study of within-group differences of 'cocaine babies?'(Editorial)

Article Abstract:

There appears to be considerable variation in the health and competency of families with cocaine-using mothers of cocaine-exposed children, contrary to common belief. A study has shown that the competency of the mother and the developmental status of the child varies considerably even among mothers who continue to use cocaine. Many of the children were within normal developmental range and their mothers had adequate parenting skills. This may be due to either the success of intervention programs designed to foster parenting skills and infant development or differences between mothers who took advantage of such programs compared with mothers who did not. Whatever the case, the assumption that all children whose mothers take cocaine are a lost cause is not warranted. Programs designed to preserve the family unit and improve the child's environment have value.

Editorial, Evaluation, Social work, Social case work

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Children with in utero cocaine exposure do not differ from control subjects on intelligence testing

Article Abstract:

Exposure to cocaine in the uterus may not affect intelligence in inner-city children when tested at 4 years of age. Researchers gave an IQ test to 71 cocaine-exposed 4-year-old children and 78 children whose mothers did not use cocaine during pregnancy. Although both groups scored below average on the test, there were no differences between the groups on any aspect of the intelligence test.

Drug abuse in pregnancy, Intelligence tests

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