Postpartum retention in opioid agonist treatment for opioid dependence: A population-based cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Opioid agonist treatment (OAT) is the first-line treatment for opioid dependence during pregnancy and recommended for at least one year postpartum or until a strong maternal-infant bond and stable family environment is established. Evidence on postpartum OAT retention is limited. We examined retention rates and associated maternal characteristics.

Methods

We linked OAT prescription authority to perinatal, mortality, and other data sources. We identified all opioid-dependent women who gave birth in New South Wales, Australia (1 January 2004-31 March 2020) while receiving OAT. We defined retention at 90, 180, and 365 days postpartum as continuous treatment over each period. We calculated retention rates and used generalised linear modelling to examine association betwe

SUBMITTER: Zhou J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12769642 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature