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Characteristics of ...
Characteristics of drug-abusing females with and without children seeking treatment in Helsinki, Finland
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Basnet, S (author)
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Onyeka, IN (author)
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- Tiihonen, J (author)
- Karolinska Institutet
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Fohr, J (author)
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Kauhanen, J (author)
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(creator_code:org_t)
- 2015-02-04
- 2015
- English.
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In: Scandinavian journal of public health. - : SAGE Publications. - 1651-1905 .- 1403-4948. ; 43:3, s. 221-228
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http://kipublication...
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https://doi.org/10.1...
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Abstract
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- Aims: This study characterizes treatment-seeking female users of illicit drugs in Finland, and examines possible differences among women with or without children under 18. Methods: The subjects were 2526 drug-using clients from the Helsinki metropolitan area, who sought treatment at Helsinki Deaconess Institute between 2001 and 2008. A total of 775 (30.6%) were females with complete information regarding their parental status. Of these, 225 (29%) had children under 18. The proportion of women with children varied between 20% and 30% annually, except in 2006, when it peaked at 40.5%. Results: Women with children were more likely to be somewhat older ( p<0.001), married or cohabiting ( p<0.001), homeless ( p=0.007), unemployed ( p<0.001), and living with other illicit drug users ( p=0.014), compared with those without children. Self-referral and referral to treatment by child healthcare services were more common among those who had children ( p<0.001). A higher proportion of women with children reported use of opiates as the primary drug ( p<0.001), and used them more often intravenously ( p=0.001), and daily ( p=0.007), during the previous month. However, polydrug use ( p=0.607) and sharing of needles/syringes ( p=0.945) were similar in both groups. Prevalence of hepatitis B and C ( p=0.041 and p<0.001, respectively) were more common in females with children. Among women who had children, 34.2% had children living within the same household, 37.3% in foster care, and 22.7% elsewhere. Conclusions: Women with children had more risky drug consumption patterns, and were more likely to live with other drug users; this creates an unhealthy environment for child rearing.
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- ref (subject category)
- art (subject category)
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