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The Epidemiology of Acute Poisonings in Women of Reproductive Age and During Pregnancy, California, 2000–2004

Maternal and Child Health Journal volume 15, pages 964–973 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

The aims of this study were to describe and compare the epidemiology of acute poisoning hospital discharges in women of reproductive age and during pregnancy (aged between 15 and 44) to include the incidence rate, risk factors, substances involved, rates of intentional versus unintentional poisonings, and in pregnant women, distribution over trimesters. Through a cohort study design, the California patient discharge dataset and linked vital statistics-patient discharge database were used to identify cases of acute poisoning hospital discharges from 2000 to 2004 among women of reproductive age and among pregnant women. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated to identify risk factors using logistic regression. Of 4,436,019 hospital discharges in women of reproductive age, 1% were for an acute poisoning (115.3/100,000 person-years). There were 2,285,540 deliveries and 833 hospital discharges for an acute poisoning during pregnancy (48.6/100,000 person-years). Pregnancy was associated with a lower risk of acute poisoning (OR = 0.89, P = 0.0007). Poisonings were greatest among young black women regardless of pregnancy status and among those with substance abuse or mental health problems. Analgesic and psychiatric medications were most commonly implicated. The majority of poisonings among women of reproductive age (69.6%) and among pregnant women (61.6%) were self-inflicted. Efforts to reduce acute poisonings among women of reproductive age should include education regarding the use of over-the-counter medications and interventions to reduce self-inflicted harm.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 130 DeSoto Street, 127N Parran Hall, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA

    Candace K. McClure

  2. Department of Emergency Medicine, Division of Medical Toxicology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA

    Kenneth D. Katz

  3. College of Nursing, The Ohio State University, 3538 Newton Hall, 1585 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA

    Thelma E. Patrick

  4. Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 130 DeSoto Street, A525 Crabtree Hall, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA

    Sheryl F. Kelsey

  5. Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, P.O. Box 913, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand

    Harold B. Weiss

Authors
  1. Candace K. McClure
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  2. Kenneth D. Katz
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  3. Thelma E. Patrick
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  5. Harold B. Weiss
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Correspondence to Candace K. McClure.

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McClure, C.K., Katz, K.D., Patrick, T.E. et al. The Epidemiology of Acute Poisonings in Women of Reproductive Age and During Pregnancy, California, 2000–2004. Matern Child Health J 15, 964–973 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-010-0571-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-010-0571-1

Keywords

  • Pregnancy
  • Reproductive age
  • Poisoning
  • Injury
  • Self-inflicted injury
  • Analgesics