Pregnancy in a Brotherhood bin: Housing and drug-treatment options for pregnant young women

Abstract

The research on which this paper is based is part of an Australian Housing Urban Research Institute (AHURI) project using ethnographic research with people using heroin in the cities of Yarra and Geelong (Victoria), Sydney and Cabramatta (New South Wales). More specifically the article reports on the lives of young drug dependent pregnant women and the importance of housing for those wanting to enter drug treatment programs. This involves asking how critical the provision of appropriate housing are for women who choose to ‘get clean’ or who attempt to limit their drug use. An answer is provided by drawing on interview material from the pregnant women themselves as well as a range of health and welfare service providers.

Examining barriers to harm reduction and child welfare services for pregnant women and mothers who use substances using a stigma action framework

“…Nineteen articles explored factors at the individual level of stigma, including fear and mistrust of the child welfare, health, and justice systems; internalized stigma; and concern related to not being able to reduce substance use. Fear or mistrust of child welfare (Baskin et al, 2015;Blakey & Hatcher, 2013;Carlson et al, 2006;Elms et al, 2018;Falletta et al, 2018;Howell & Chasnoff, 1999;Jessup et al, 2003;Kruk & Banga, 2011;Radcliffe, 2009;Roberts & Nuru-Jeter, 2012;Rockhill et al, 2008;Taylor & Kroll, 2004), health (Jessup et al, 2003) and criminal justice (Bessant, 2003;Jessup et al, 2003) systems were the most frequently cited factors at the individual level. Fear and mistrust significantly impacted how women experienced substance use treatment, health and social services and many women avoided services because they anticipated being stigmatised.…”

“…Some women feared that their child(ren) would be removed from their care and others worried that they did not know when they would be able to regain custody of their child(ren) (Baskin et al, 2015;Elms et al, 2018;Falletta et al, 2018;Howell & Chasnoff, 1999;Radcliffe, 2009;Rockhill et al, 2008;Salmon et al, 2000). Many of these fears were prompted by institutional and population level factors, including discriminatory laws and policies (Bessant, 2003;Carlson, 2006;Carlson et al, 2008;He et al, 2014;Jessup et al, 2003;Kenny & Barrington, 2018). At the individual level, these factors heightened internalized stigma, maternal guilt, shame and beliefs that women had 'failed' or were 'unfit' to mother (Carlson et al, 2006;Kenny & Barrington, 2018;Kruk & Banga, 2011;Smith, 2006).…”

“…At the familial level, partner violence, partner's substance use, and lack of family and partner support were commonly cited as barriers for pregnant women and mothers to accessing substance use services (Bessant, 2003;Comfort & Kaltenbach, 2000;Howell & Chasnoff, 1999;Rockhill et al, 2008;Tuten et al, 2003). The absence of external support further perpetuated self-stigma, fears of societal shame (Baskin et al, 2015), and being ostracised as a result of one's substance use (Kenny & Barrington, 2018).…”

“…Radcliffe ( 2009) described women feeling judged for acknowledging Lack of gender-and trauma-informed programming Bessant (2003); Grosenick and Hatmaker (2000); Kruk and Banga (2011); Lewis (2004); Tuten et al (2003) (Continues)…”

“…Many of these barriers are influenced by the pervasive stigmatisation they experience (Bessant, 2003;Howell & Chasnoff, 1999). This is particularly true for Indigenous women, women of colour and women with lower socio-economic status (Harvey et al, 2015;Howard, 2015;Stengel, 2014).…”