Helping pregnant and breastfeeding women reduce alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis to protect babies
Adapting and testing a behavioral intervention to prevent FASD and adverse infant outcomes
This project adapts a counseling-plus-rewards program to help pregnant and breastfeeding women in South Africa cut down on alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis so their babies have healthier starts.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Research Triangle Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Research Triangle Park, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11405309 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be offered an adapted behavioral program that combines counseling (the Women's Health CoOp) with contingency management (small rewards) to encourage stopping or reducing alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The team will work with local clinics in South Africa to tailor the program to local needs and culture and then try it with pregnant and lactating participants. Study staff will monitor substance use over time and track birth and early infant outcomes linked to prenatal or breastfeeding exposure. The goal is to see whether this combined approach reduces harmful exposures and improves infant health in a setting with high rates of FASD.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are pregnant or breastfeeding women in the study area of South Africa who currently use alcohol and/or tobacco and/or cannabis and are willing to enroll in counseling and follow-up visits.
Not a fit: People who are not pregnant or breastfeeding, do not use alcohol/tobacco/cannabis, or cannot attend local study visits are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could lower prenatal and breastfeeding substance exposure and reduce rates of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and other adverse infant outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: Reward-based (contingency management) and counseling programs have reduced prenatal substance use in U.S. studies, but combining and culturally adapting these approaches for South Africa is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Research Triangle Park, United States
- Research Triangle Institute — Research Triangle Park, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Washio, Yukiko — Research Triangle Institute
- Study coordinator: Washio, Yukiko
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.