Prevalence of Drug abuse among ante partum females, Obstetric Department, Beni Suef University Hospital, Egypt

Abstract

The consumption of drugs of abuse among females in the Health Services is a frequent problem, but often
it is not diagnosed. Aims: We have analyzed the variations in the clinical profile of female patients came to
obstetric emergency department in a period of sex months and made screening for various drugs to assess
the percentage of addicted females in this period of life. Secondly, we have assessed also the accuracy of the
presumptive method of detection compared to the confirmatory method. Method: Urine samples were taken
from pregnant females came to obstetric emergency department, Beni Suef University hospital and was
screened to detect the drugs of abuse that taken by these females by immunoassay and GC- mass and clinical
assessment of the babies were done. Results: from 300 females there were 20 cases Tramadol positive
by immunoassay but all of them were false positive when GC-mass was used. There was a questioned
cross reactivity between Ranitidine and tramadol by Immunoassay needing for more researches. 62.3% of
the female were no educated 42% of the female’s husbands were SHISHA smokers. Intra uterine growth
retardation was the most common fetal complication
Conclusions: scientific survey which done to detect drug abuse among group of people should never depend
on immunoassay methods. The belief that women are more biologically complicated than men and that
they were too busy caring for their children to participate in studies should be changed. Women should be
included in clinical researches.