Drug use risks and supports during pregnancy and after birth
Risk Environments for Pregnant/Postpartum Women who Use Drugs: a longitudinal qualitative study
Researchers will talk with pregnant and new mothers who use drugs over time to learn what makes their lives safer or more dangerous.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11367917 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be invited to share your experiences in interviews during pregnancy and through the first year after birth to describe drug use, health care, and everyday risks. The team will follow the same women over time with in-depth conversations and use Constructivist Grounded Theory to find common patterns. An Advisory Board of women who use drugs will help shape the questions and how results are understood. The project uses harm reduction, risk environment, and resilience ideas to highlight practical supports that help women survive pregnancy and postpartum.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Pregnant or recently postpartum women who currently use or have recently used drugs and who are willing to take part in repeated interviews over time.
Not a fit: People who are not pregnant or postpartum, who do not use drugs, or who are unwilling to participate in interviews are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could inform better programs, policies, and supports to reduce harms and deaths among pregnant and postpartum women who use drugs.
How similar studies have performed: This approach is relatively novel for pregnant and postpartum women who use drugs, as few prior longitudinal qualitative studies have focused on this group.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cooper, Hannah Lf — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Cooper, Hannah Lf
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.