PREGNANT WOMEN AND THE USE OF ILLICIT PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES

AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

Introduction: Even though there have been advances towards critical thinking about the roles in gender relations in society, the burden of expectations and judgments about women is still recurring. When it comes to pregnant women who use illicit psychoactive substances, the treatment given to them carries a double judgment – because they are women and because they are pregnant drug users. Objective: To analyze scientific production on pregnant women and the use of illicit psychoactive substances (marijuana, cocaine and crack) in the Brazilian reality. Method: Integrative literature review, carried out on the Virtual Health Library (VHL) platform, in the Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (LILACS) database, with controlled descriptors, from November 2022 to July 2023. The PICo strategy was used: P (population): pregnant women; I (interest): use of illicit psychoactive substances; Co (context): in the health care scenario. Articles that responded to the objective of the study were selected, according to inclusion/exclusion criteria and content analysis was carried out based on Bardin. Results: The content of productions in the health area predominantly addresses the prevalence of the use of psychoactive substances by pregnant women and the organic effects of this use on the fetus/baby. The psychosocial and legal consequences that the use of psychoactive substances by pregnant women can bring, such as loss of custody of their children, have been little explored in all the studies. Conclusion: In order to qualify health care for pregnant women who use psychoactive substances, it is necessary to face challenges, such as moral judgment on the part of professionals, especially in the health area. The potential must also be taken advantage of, such as women's motivation to stop using it during pregnancy.