Advisor(s)
Julie Preskitt
Committee Member(s)
David Becker
Jessica Chambliss
John Dantzler
Molly Richardson
School
School of Public Health
Document Type
Dissertation
Department (new version)
Public Health
Date of Award
1-6-2025
Abstract
Low income, pregnant and postpartum women who misuse opioids in the state of Alabama face potentially life-threatening challenges when seeking substance misuse treatment and recovery support services. Our study used an explanatory sequential mixed-methods approach to explore gateways, barriers, and facilitators to opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment for pregnant and postpartum women in the state of Alabama. Surveys from 32 pregnant and postpartum individuals and in-depth interviews with 15 pregnant and postpartum individuals (four pregnant, four 0-6 months postpartum, four 7-12 months postpartum and three 13-18 months postpartum) were used to identify gateways, barriers, and facilitators to OUD treatment. Our study used secondary data from Government Performance Results Act (GPRA) intake surveys of women enrolled in one of The Treatment Provider’s substance misuse treatment programs from October 1, 2023-December 31, 2023. These 32 women received a recruitment letter between January 1, 2024-March 31, 2024, to participate in an in-depth interview. A total of 15 in-depth interviews were completed. Our study found that pregnant and postpartum women were mostly non-Hispanic White, younger, and less educated in comparison to other women seeking treatment at the same time from the same facilities. These women also reported financial barriers, lack of transportation, past traumas, and intimate partner violence as barriers to treatment. Key facilitators to treatment included social support and pregnancy awareness. Key gateways to treatment included The Department of Human Resources, drug court, and other mental health institutions. Our study concludes support for the continuum of care, trauma-informed gender-responsive treatment, and broadening eligibility requirements for pregnant and postpartum women to participate in drug court programs may increase utilization of treatment services for OUD by pregnant and postpartum women. Further exploration of gateways, barriers, and facilitators is needed to help us better understand how to improve access for individuals in need and better address the epidemic of OUD for low-income pregnant and postpartum women in the state of Alabama.
ProQuest ID
Recommended Citation
Bender, Lindsey Allison Rice, "Gateways, Barriers, And Facilitators To Opioid Use Treatment For Low-Income Pregnant And Postpartum Women In The State Of Alabama" (2025). All ETDs from UAB. 7313.
https://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/etd-collection/7313
