A Qualitative Study on Perinatal Drug Abuse in Singapore 

Background and Objectives:

Drug use during pregnancy can have detrimental effects on pregnancy and can lead to poor child health outcomes. The
exact nature and extent of the poor outcomes depend on the type of drug(s) involved. Most substances of abuse cross the
placenta and can affect fetal brain development with long-lasting implications for brain structure and function. Pregnant drug
abusers tend to have little to no proper prenatal care and are at higher risks of poor maternal and neonatal outcomes. There
is currently limited information available on the prevalence and risk factors of drug abuse in pregnant women in Singapore.
The objectives of this qualitative study are to establish (1) the prevalence of drug abuse in Singapore (2) the risk factors for
drug abuse during pregnancy