Narcotic-exposed neonates in a First Nations population in northwestern Ontario: Incidence and implications

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Figure 1
Percentage of exposed neonates (n=61) over consecutive 6-month periods (January 2009 to June 2010): Pearson χ² for differences in proportions P=.05.
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Figure 2
Patterns of narcotic use (n=61)

Table 1

Maternal characteristics: Characteristics that were statistically different between exposed and nonexposed women are boldface.

CHARACTERISTIC	ALL BIRTHS (N = 482)	EXPOSED MOTHERS (N = 61)	P VALUE^*
Mean (SD) age, y	24.4 (6.03)	24.5 (6.2)	.326^{^†}
Mean (SD) parity	1.67 (1.72)	1.82 (1.47)	.474^{^†}
Mean (SD) gestational age, wk	39.1 (1.3)	38.8 (1.5)	.045^{^†}
Smoking, n (%)	278 (57.7)	50 (83.3)	< .001
Alcohol use, n (%)	116 (25.3)	21 (34.4)	.050
Hypertension, n (%)	37 (7.7)	6 (10.5)	.418
Type 2 diabetes mellitus, n (%)	11 (2.3)	1 (1.7)	.735
Gestational diabetes, n (%)	26 (5.4)	2 (3.4)	.454
Hepatitis B, n (%)	2 (0.4)	0 (0)	.590
First Nations community, n (%)	379 (78.6)	58 (95.1)	.004
Cesarean section, n (%)	118 (24.5)	14 (23.0)	.935
Nonelective cesarean section, n (%)	83 (17.2)	10 (16.4)	.924
Out-of-hospital deliveries, n (%)	13 (2.7)	3 (5.0)	.244
Postpartum hemorrhage, n (%)	70 (14.5)	7 (11.5)	.462

Table 2

Neonatal characteristics: Characteristics that were statistically different between exposed and nonexposed neonates are boldface.

CHARACTERISTIC	ALL BIRTHS (N = 482)	EXPOSED NEONATES (N = 61)	P VALUE^*
Mean (SD) birth weight, g	3591 (519)	3516 (577)	.229
Mean (SD) 1-min Apgar score	8.48 (0.98)	8.5 (1.0)	.856
Mean (SD) 5-min Apgar score	9.00 (0.36)	8.95 (0.6)	.259
Mean (SD) head circumference, cm	34.9 (1.7)	34.9 (1.5)	.772
Mean (SD) length, cm	51.1 (3.3)	51.1 (3.2)	.768
Mean (SD) arterial pH	7.25 (0.01)	7.26 (0.8)	.539
Mean (SD) venous pH	7.30 (0.08)	7.31 (0.07)	.132
Preterm (< 37 wk), n (%)	11 (2.3)	5 (8.2)	.001^{^†}
NaS, n (%)	21 (4.3)	18 (29.5)	< .001^{^†}
Finnegan score > 7, n (%)	9 (1.9)	7 (11.5)	< .001^{^†}
Males, n (%)	261 (54.1)	40 (65.6)	.055^{^†}
Transfer to tertiary care, n (%)	7 (1.5)	4 (6.8)	.005^{^†}