We spoke with lead author Julie R Gaither, PhD, MPH, RN about her new study's findings.
Your study looks to answer the question, "Does the risk of hospital readmission differ between infants with and without neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS)?" What were your findings?
In a national cohort study of nearly 14 million newborns, approximately 90,000 of whom were infants with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS), we found that infants with NOWS had a 90-day hospital readmission rate of 4.2% compared to 3.0% for infants without NOWS. Infants with NOWS were more likely to be readmitted for failure to thrive, seizures, and serious injuries, including head injuries. They were also more likely to be readmitted for confirmed neglect, but not physical abuse.
What are some key takeaways for our readers?
Infants with NOWS are at increased risk of 90-day hospital readmission for trauma and maltreatment. In part, these findings may be explained by maternal and family stress associated with caring for a vulnerable newborn in the context of a substance use disorder.
What clinical or policy solutions can help these patients and their families?
Parents affected by maternal opioid use need further support in the initial months after giving birth. In particular, our findings highlight the need for family-based, in-home services that focus concurrently on substance use treatment and parenting support.