Prospective acceptability of digital phenotyping among pregnant and parenting people with opioid use disorder: A multisite qualitative study

BackgroundWhile medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) effectively treat OUD during pregnancy and the postpartum period, poor treatment retention is common. Digital phenotyping, or passive sensing data captured from personal mobile devices, namely smartphones, provides an opportunity to understand behaviors, psychological states, and social influences contributing to perinatal MOUD non-retention. Given this novel area of investigation, we conducted a qualitative study to determine the acceptability of digital phenotyping among pregnant and parenting people with opioid use disorder (PPP-OUD).MethodsThis study was guided by the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability (TFA). Within a clinical trial testing a behavioral health intervention for PPP-OUD, we used purposeful criterion sampling to recruit 11 participants who delivered a child in the past 12  months and received OUD treatment during pregnancy or the postpartum period. Data were collected through phone interviews using a structured interview guide based on four TFA constructs (affective attitude, burden, ethicality, self-efficacy). We used framework analysis to code, chart, and identify key patterns within the data.ResultsParticipants generally expressed positive attitudes about digital phenotyping and high self-efficacy and low anticipated burden to participate in studies that collect smartphone-based passive sensing data. Nonetheless, concerns were noted related to data privacy/security and sharing location information. Differences in participant assessments of burden were related to length of time required and level of remuneration to participate in a study. Interviewees voiced broad support for participating in a digital phenotyping study with known/trusted individuals but expressed concerns about third-party data sharing and government monitoring.ConclusionDigital phenotyping methods were acceptable to PPP-OUD. Enhancements in acceptability include allowing participants to maintain control over which data are shared, limiting frequency of research contacts, aligning compensation with participant burden, and outlining data privacy/security protections on study materials

Behavioral Coping Phenotypes and Associated Psychosocial Outcomes of Pregnant and Postpartum Women During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The impact of COVID-19-related stress on perinatal women is of heightened public health concern given the established intergenerational impact of maternal stress-exposure on infants and fetuses. There is urgent need to characterize the coping styles associated with adverse psychosocial outcomes in perinatal women during the COVID-19 pandemic to help mitigate the potential for lasting sequelae on both mothers and infants. This study uses a data-driven approach to identify the patterns of behavioral coping strategies that associate with maternal psychosocial distress during the COVID-19 pandemic in a large multicenter sample of pregnant women (N = 2876) and postpartum women (N = 1536). Data was collected from 9 states across the United States from March to October 2020. Women reported behaviors they were engaging in to manage pandemic-related stress, symptoms of depression, anxiety and global psychological distress, as well as changes in energy levels, sleep quality and stress levels. Using latent profile analysis, we identified four behavioral phenotypes of coping strategies. Critically, phenotypes with high levels of passive coping strategies (increased screen time, social media, and intake of comfort foods) were associated with elevated symptoms of depression, anxiety, and global psychological distress, as well as worsening stress and energy levels, relative to other coping phenotypes. In contrast, phenotypes with high levels of active coping strategies (social support, and self-care) were associated with greater resiliency relative to other phenotypes. The identification of these widespread coping phenotypes reveals novel behavioral patterns associated with risk and resiliency to pandemic-related stress in perinatal women. These findings may contribute to early identification of women at risk for poor long-term outcomes and indicate malleable targets for interventions aimed at mitigating lasting sequelae on women and children during the COVID-19 pandemic

Unintended hysterotomy extension during caesarean delivery: risk factors and maternal morbidity

We conducted an observational retrospective cohort study to evaluate the risk factors and the maternal morbidity associated with unintended extensions of the hysterotomy during caesarean delivery. We evaluated 2707 women who underwent low-transverse caesarean deliveries in 2011 at an academic, tertiary-care hospital. Hysterotomy extensions were identified through operative reports. Of the 2707 caesarean deliveries, 392 (14.5%) had an unintended hysterotomy extension. On the multivariable regression modelling, neonatal weight (OR 1.42; 95%CI 1.17–1.73), the arrest of labour [first-stage arrest (2.42; 1.73–3.38); second-stage arrest (5.54; 3.88–7.90)] and a non-reassuring foetal status (1.65; 1.20–2.25) were significantly associated with hysterotomy extensions. Hysterotomy extensions were significantly associated with an increased morbidity including an estimated blood loss >1200 millilitres (2.06; 1.41–3.02), a decline in postoperative haemoglobin ≥3.7 g/dL (2.07; 1.35–3.17), an evaluation for lower urinary tract injury (5.58; 3.17–9.81), and a longer operative time (8.11; 6.33–9.88). Based on these results, we conclude that unintended hysterotomy extensions significantly increase the maternal morbidity of caesarean deliveries.Impact statement What is already known on this subject? Maternal morbidity associated with caesarean delivery (CD) is significantly greater than that in vaginal delivery. Unintended extensions of the hysterotomy occur in approximately 4–8% of CDs and are more common after a prolonged second stage of labour. The morbidity associated with hysterotomy extensions has been incompletely evaluated. What do the results of this study add? We demonstrate a rate of hysterotomy extension in a general obstetric population of approximately 15%, which is higher than previously reported estimates, and represents a potential doubling of the rate of the unintended hysterotomy extensions in recent years. The most significant risk factor for a hysterotomy extension was a second-stage labour arrest with a fourfold increase in the frequency of extensions. A hysterotomy extension is a significant independent risk factor for an intraoperative haemorrhage, a drop in postoperative haemoglobin, an intraoperative evaluation for lower urinary tract injury, and longer CD operative times. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? A second-stage arrest is a strong independent risk factor for a hysterotomy extension. Recent re-evaluations of the labour curve that extend the second stage of labour will likely increase the frequency of CDs performed after a prolonged second stage. In these scenarios, obstetricians should be prepared for an unintended hysterotomy extension and for the possibility of a longer procedure with the increased risks of blood loss and the need for evaluation of the lower urinary tract

Research letter: Association of duration of methadone or buprenorphine use during pregnancy with risk of nonfatal drug overdose among pregnant persons with opioid use disorder in the US.

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is associated with morbidity and mortality during pregnancy and post partum, and emerging evidence suggests that drug-related deaths are a leading cause of mortality. Although pregnant persons with OUD are at high risk of drug overdose events during pregnancy and postpartum, medication for OUD (MOUD) may mitigate adverse outcomes by reducing illicit drug use and facilitating engagement with health care professionals to address co-occurring chronic conditions. Our objective was to quantify the association of the duration of MOUD use during pregnancy and the risk of nonfatal overdose in pregnancy among pregnant persons with OUD in the US....