County-level neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome rates and real-world access to buprenorphine during pregnancy: An audit ("secret shopper") study in Missouri.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Amid rising rates of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) worldwide and in many regions of the USA, we conducted an audit study ("secret shopper study") to evaluate the influence of county-level buprenorphine capacity and rurality on county-level NOWS rates.

Methods

In 2019, up to three phone calls were made to buprenorphine prescribers in the state of Missouri (USA). County-level buprenorphine capacity was defined as the number of clinicians (across all specialties) accepting pregnant people divided by the number of births. Multivariable negative binomial regression models estimated associations between buprenorphine capacity, rurality, and county-level NOWS rates, controlling for potential confounders (i.e., poverty, unemployment, and physician shortages)

SUBMITTER: Bedrick BS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10877162 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature