Prenatal Use of Medication for Opioid Use Disorder and Other Prescription Opioids in Cases of Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome: North Carolina Medicaid, 2016-2018

Am J Public Health. 2021 Sep;111(9):1682-1685. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2021.306374. Epub 2021 Aug 12.

Abstract

Objectives. To estimate use of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and prescription opioids in pregnancy among mothers of infants with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS). Methods. We used linked 2016-2018 North Carolina birth certificate and newborn and maternal Medicaid claims data to identify infants with an NOWS diagnosis and maternal claims for MOUD and prescription opioids in pregnancy (n = 3395). Results. Among mothers of infants with NOWS, 38.6% had a claim for MOUD only, 14.3% had a claim for prescription opioids only, 8.1% had a claim for both MOUD and prescription opioids, and 39.1% did not have a claim for MOUD or prescription opioids in pregnancy. Non-Hispanic Black women were less likely to have a claim for MOUD than non-Hispanic White women. The percentage of infants born full term and normal birth weight was highest among women with MOUD or both MOUD and prescription opioid claims. Conclusions. In the 2016-2018 NC Medicaid population, 60% of mothers of infants with NOWS had MOUD or prescription opioid claims in pregnancy, underscoring the extent to which cases of NOWS may be a result of medically appropriate opioid use in pregnancy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Analgesics, Opioid / therapeutic use
  • Buprenorphine / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Medicaid / statistics & numerical data*
  • Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome / epidemiology*
  • Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome / prevention & control
  • North Carolina
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications / drug therapy*
  • Pregnancy Complications / epidemiology
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / epidemiology*
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / prevention & control
  • Retrospective Studies
  • United States
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Buprenorphine