Prevalencia del síndrome de abstinencia neonatal en recién nacidos de madres consumidoras de sustancias psicoactivas tratadas en el Hospital Universitario Erasmo Meoz 2010–2024

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) represents a complex clinical condition in newborns exposed to psychoactive substances (PS) during pregnancy. The main purpose of this research was to determine the prevalence of NAS and its association with the type of PS used by mothers attended at the Erasmo Meoz University Hospital (HUEM) between 2010 and 2024. This work is based on the understanding of placental substance transfer and its effects on fetal neurodevelopment. An observational, retrospective, and quantitative study was carried out, analyzing 119 medical records through a structured data collection tool and statistical processing using RStudio. Findings showed a prevalence rate of 25.2%, being most common in newborns exposed to cocaine, bazuco, and heroin. The main clinical features included irritability, feeding difficulties, and respiratory problems. Additionally, maternal polysubstance use and social vulnerability were linked to greater severity of NAS and a higher rate of neonatal institutionalization. These results highlight the need to strengthen preventive measures, early diagnosis, and comprehensive care programs in perinatal health services.