| CODE | MID4004 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Substance Misuse in Childbearing Women | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 04 - Years 4, 5 in Modular UG or PG Cert Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Midwifery | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Substance misuse and pregnancy is not a new phenomenon but it is one that has become more widespread over recent years. Much of the literature concerns pregnant women addicted to opiates, such as heroin, but other groups of drugs – such as cocaine, ‘crack’, amphetamines, and ‘soft’ drugs for example cannabis are also abused, and many women are poly-drug users. The lifestyles of many female abusers may expose them to poverty, homelessness, poor housing conditions, prostitution, sexual and physical abuse, depression and infections including hepatitis and HIV. The study-unit is designated to cover various aspects of theoretical and clinical importance. This training will help students become knowledgeable about the effects of substance misuse on mothers and babies. It will also enable them to give non judgemental and supportive care and advice. This study unit will cover learning experiences through lectures. Learning Objectives: At the end of the study-unit candidates will be able to: - Identify the risks to the mother and her baby in women with substance misuse - Enable candidates to deliver a holistic, multidisciplinary non judgemental approach to care, for these women and their baby. - Able to identify the legal position regarding fetal and maternal rights. - Explore services which offer treatment and support to the woman and her family, to prepare her for parenting her child. - Explore the role of the midwife in the provision of care towards giving these women a positive both experience. Content: - The importance of having a correct attitude when dealing with a drug addict - Experimental/Recreational drug use, Drug abuse, Drug Dependence - Do we have a drug problem… how serious? - Why do people use drugs? - Neurochemical basis of dependence - Classifications of drug abuse - Complications of drug abuse/dependence - Complications secondary to mode of drug administration - Symptoms and signs of drug use - Drug use in very young people - Drug use in pregnancy - Cycle of change - Services available - Treatment modalities for the various drugs of abuse - Management of identified obstetric problems in the mother and baby Reading List: - Institute for the study of Drug Dependence. (1992). Drugs, Pregnancy, and Childcare; A guide for professionals. London: ISDD. - Siney, C. (1999). Pregnancy and drug misuse. Oxford: Midwives Press. - Strang, J. (1991). Drug Misuse and dependence. Guidelines on Clinical Management. London: 10 HMSO. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Anna Maria Vella |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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