EBPWB - GCSE Health and Social Care - Unit 2 - Drug Support Centre : iii. Young women, pregnancy and drug abuse

AIMS

Factors positively influencing health and well-being eg. supportive relationships

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

To increase knowledge and understanding of how supportive relationships can improve well-being.

To consolidate knowledge of how the value bases of a Youth and Community Project Worker might affect the decisions they are able to make.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

To identify the issues surrounding young women, pregnancy and drug use.

To explore and describe the various points of view of those involved.

To describe the actions which could be taken by the Youth and Community Project Worker.

To write short plays displaying their understanding of the issues between individuals in the situation.

INTRODUCTION

Sit the group in a circle and discuss with the group how they feel about young mothers who smoke.

Perhaps ask each member of the group to come up with one word to describe their feelings.

Discuss why a young mother is smoking during her pregnancy. Try to break down the judgmental attitudes by getting them to think about the situation the girl is in.

TASK A - The Issues

Ask the group to get into groups of 4 around a table.

Distribute copies of the information sheet to each student with a pair of scissors. Ask them to take it in turns to read and then cut the statement away from the sheet.

Ask them to place each statement under four headings: Judgmental Issue, Risk of Damage

Issue, Access to Services Issue, Knowledge of Maternal Physiology.

Ask the group to discuss each of the four issues following. Some of the statements obviously 1052have some overlap.

There are many issues to consider about young women's drug use and pregnancy:

Judgmental attitudes.

Knowledge of the actual risks and damage.

Knowledge of the maternal physiology.

Maintaining access for young mothers using drugs to services eg ante-natal services.

TASK A

Information sheet

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	During pregnancy, the foetus' supply of blood and food travels from the mother through the placenta. From research, it is now known that most drugs taken by the mother will cross the placenta and enter the foetus' bloodstream.


	Most mood changing drugs can cause distress and potential harm to the foetus. Current advice to all women in pregnancy is to avoid all drugs, legal and illegal, for the term of the pregnancy.


	The main risks seem to be those of low birth weight, miscarriage and poor development after the birth. The risks are real but should not be exaggerated.


	In the large majority of cases, neither mother nor foetus will come to significant harm from moderate use of drugs.


	In cases where the mother has regularly taken large doses of heroin the foetus is unlikely to come to lasting harm if the maternity staff are made aware of the situation and appropriate levels of medical support are provided. In such cases the newborn baby will be gradually weaned off drugs in the first weeks of life.


	Some people have seized upon information about risks of drug use in pregnancy and used it as a tirade against "irresponsible women" who have failed to "protect" their babies. There have even been moves to declare women unfit to be mothers if they had taken heroin during pregnancy.


	The effects of drug use in pregnancy will depend on the substances used and extent and length of use as well as more general lifestyle and individual factors such as diet, housing, income support etc.


	Over emphasis and exaggeration of the effect of the drug use on the foetus make women feel guilty, increase stress and pressure. Women are also less likely to feel positive about their pregnancy and they are less likely to seek medical support.


	Fear of the baby being "taken away" by social workers has led to female drug users staying away from helping agencies. Drug using mothers are by no means "bad mothers" or any less caring or capable than others.


	The woman herself should be the focus for concern. The first instinct should be that of support for her rather than criticism of her. She will need reassurance that she can safely and without judgement use services that are designed to help her. In particular, young women drug users will need support to use ante-natal services and plan their pregnancy and birth with as much support and care as possible.

TASK A

The issues

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Judgemental issue

Risk of damage issue

Access to services issue

Knowledge of maternal physiology

TASK B

Case study - Laura

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Give each group a copy of the Case Study about Laura. Read it to the group.

Each group should discuss the case from three possible different points of view. Laura, Steve and Laura's parents.

They should summarise their thoughts on the response sheet for each person.


	Laura is 16. You have known her for three years. During that time she has smoked cigarettes and cannabis and sometimes drunk alcohol heavily. She tells you that she hasn't had a period for 2 months, has been sick in the mornings and has just done her own pregnancy test which was positive. She has only told her boyfriend Steve (aged 18). He says he wants her to have the baby and come and live in his flat. Laura lives at home with her mum and dad but spends a lot of time at Steve's. She hasn't told her parents about being pregnant or been to the doctor or the clinic. She says she wants to have the baby but is worried about what is going to happen. She has been doing a lot of drugs lately especially amphetamine (speed) and LSD (acid) with Steve. She's worried it will affect the baby and she's also worried what will happen if she goes to the clinic. She wants your help.

Draw students back into the circle and ask one member from each group to discuss their responses from one of the people involved.

TASK B

Response sheet

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Put yourself in one of these people's position and try to describe your answer to the following questions:

Laura, Steve or Laura's Parents

How would you feel?

What do you think are the main issues or questions for Laura to answer?

What would you do immediately?

How could you best support Laura/look after yourself?

TASK C

Values of the Youth and Community Project Worker

Use the Value Base Sheet to consider how a Youth and Community Project Worker might respond to Laura's case.

Use the response sheet to record their proposed actions.

Ask the group to list their actions on to a large sheet and present it to the rest of the group briefly.

TASK C

Care value bases - key points

Focus on the young woman rather than the foetus or drug use.

Don't judge. You will only add to anxiety, guilt and pressure on the young woman.

Don't expect women to give up drug use overnight.

Find out what helpful and supportive ante-natal care may be available. If relevant, be prepared to go with the young woman to the clinic.

Focus on positive qualities that the young woman has and help her to understand her own situation and make her own informed choices.

Always seek specialist help and support for yourself in cases involving drug use and pregnancy.

TASK D

Role play

Divide the students into small groups of 4 again (mix the groups up again).

Ask them to write two short scripts each between two of the people involved in the situation and ask them to perform it to the whole group. (Laura, Steve, Laura's parents and the Youth Community Project Worker)

TASK C

Response sheet

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What would you do immediately?

What advice would you give to who?

What would you do long term?

Who else, if anyone, might you involve? WHy?

What would it be important for you not to do?