FRIDAY, Aug. 13, 2004 (HealthDayNews) -- Persistent exposure to cocaine in the womb is associated with an increased risk of hyperactivity and other behavioral problems in boys during their early school years, says a study in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.
Such behavioral problems are not more likely in girls persistently exposed to cocaine in the womb, the Children's Hospital of Michigan study found.
Children were considered to have been persistently exposed if they or their mothers tested positive for cocaine in their urine at the time of birth.
The findings confirm previous animal studies that suggest gender is a factor in the effects of prenatal cocaine exposure. This study did not identify any specific causes for this gender difference.
The researchers studied 473 Detroit-area children, aged 6 to 7, and collected information about their behavior from their teachers. About 200 of the children had been exposed to cocaine in the womb.
Boys who'd been persistently exposed to cocaine in the womb exhibited more behavioral problems and difficulties with motor skills and abstract thinking than boys who had little or no prenatal cocaine exposure.
More information
The March of Dimes has more about the effects of cocaine use during pregnancy.
