Maternal Health and Substance Use: Uncovering the Stigma and Shame of Mothers Struggling With Substance Use
Favour Dimelu, BSc, MPH Candidate, Grace Johnson, and Madison Myles

December 7, 2022, 1:00pm-2:30pm EST

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Substance use among pregnant women is an urgent public health concern in the United States. This webinar will examine the history and risk factors of substance use among pregnant women. Women face unique barriers that bring shame, stigma, and social disgrace leading to under-representation in addiction prevention and treatment. Substance use has a disproportionate impact on the maternal health outcomes of various populations that are marginalized already experiencing health disparities that perpetuate unequal health outcomes. Examples of such are racial and ethnic minorities and communities with lower socioeconomic status. Substance use during pregnancy has adverse effects impacting maternal and fetal outcomes. In addition, the webinar will provide strategies and tools to combat substance use disorders in pregnant women.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Discuss the prevalence and importance of addressing substance use and maternal health
• Examine the complexity of substance use disorder (SUD)
• Identify the risks for infants with mothers who use substances
• Review preventive and treatment options available for maternal substance use

PRESENTERS

Favour Dimelu, BSc, MPH Candidate, is a 2nd year MPH student at the University of Maryland, College Park. She graduated with her Bachelor's in Public Health in May 2021 from the University of Maryland, College Park. Her research interest includes maternal health, risk factors that perpetuate maternal mortality, and health disparities.

Grace Johnson, is finishing her last semester at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County where she is majoring in Public Health and Psychology with a concentration in health education and communication. Her interest in health education and communication stemmed from her personal mission to give back to the community. Grace is interested in field work such as patient education, health communication, healthcare policy and advocacy, and environmental health.

Madison Myles, is a senior honors Maternal & Child Health Education major and Biology minor at Howard University. Madison is a passionate advocate for health equity and black maternal health care with a desire to improve the health of vulnerable, underserved communities.