Gravida missbrukare och deras foster - en kvalitativ studie ur de profesionellas perspektiv om dilemmat med tvångsvård vid graviditet

Abstract Authors: Helena Solberg and Martina Andersson Title: Pregnant addicts and their fetus – a qualitative study from the professional perspective on the dilemma of compulsory treatment during pregnancy. Supervisor: Helena Hansson The purpose of this study was to examine and interpret the situation with pregnant women with alcohol-or drug addiction from a professional perspective. Our study addresses the dilemma with compulsory treatment act (LVM 1988:870) and pregnancy. The law does not provide a pregnant addict, compulsory treatment only on the basis that the fetus is at risk of harm. We have studied this through an analysis to see how professionals relate to the compulsory treatment act (LVM), and to see if they want a change in the law so the fetus will receive increased protection. Our aim was also to find out who the professionals have their focus on in terms of compulsory treatment – the woman or fetus. To answer our questions we have used a qualitative study with eight semi-structured interviews with different groups of professionals with experience of working with pregnant substance abusers. Our choice of theory was utilitarianism and power to analyze our material. Some of our conclusions showed that there are disagreements among the professionals who they were focusing on when it came to the woman or fetus. Keywords: compulsory treatment, pregnant woman, alcohol/drug addiction, motivation