A Prospective Mixed Methods Study of Maternal and Child Well-being and Risk of Relapse in the First Year Postpartum

PI: Ruth Paris, Associate Professor, Clinical Practice, School of Social Work; Associate Director for Research, BU Institute for Early Childhood Well-Being
Co-PI: Mei Elansary, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine
Co-Investigator: Eileen Costello, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine; Chief of Ambulatory Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center

The year after delivery is a vulnerable period for maternal-infant dyads in substance use recovery. Short and long-term risks include relapse, overdose, death, family dissolution and trauma. In particular, the late postpartum period represents a critical time with high rates of pharmacotherapy discontinuation by 6 months postpartum and the highest overdose rates 7–12 months after delivery. Longitudinal supports and interventions tailored to women and children in the first year postpartum are needed to address high rates of relapse and to promote dyadic wellbeing. The overarching goal of the First Year Study is to track the experiences of mothers in recovery and their young children in order to identify short- and long-term risk and resiliency factors for further longitudinal study and intervention development. This pilot work will be conducted in partnership with the SOFAR (Supporting Our Families through Addiction and Recovery) Clinic, an innovative, multidisciplinary primary care program built around the needs of substance-exposed infants and their parents in recovery.

See more of our 2022 Early Stage Urban Research award recipients here!