LMSW Practice Test

What is the most proximate health consequence for the infant of a drug and alcohol use among pregnant women?

1. Higher risk of birth defects, cardiovascular problems, impaired growth and development, prematurity, low birth weight and stillbirth.

2. Higher risk of raising children who replicate their parent's behavior.

3. Increased risk of mental retardation.

4. Prosecution of the mother for child abuse.

The correct answer is: Higher risk of birth defects, cardiovascular problems, impaired growth and development, prematurity, low birth weight and stillbirth.

The correct answer highlights the immediate and direct health consequences that infants may face when their mothers use drugs and alcohol during pregnancy. Using substances while pregnant can lead to a variety of serious health issues for the developing fetus, including higher risk of birth defects, cardiovascular issues, impaired growth and development, prematurity, low birth weight, and even stillbirth. These outcomes are specifically tied to the physiological impacts of substances on fetal development, making this choice the most proximate health consequence. The other options, while they address issues related to drug and alcohol use, do not directly relate to the immediate health effects on the infant. For instance, the risk of raising children who replicate their parent's behavior pertains to social and psychological consequences rather than direct health concerns. Similarly, increased risk of mental retardation, while a potential outcome, does not encapsulate the full range of immediate physical health issues that can arise from prenatal substance exposure. Lastly, the prosecution of the mother pertains to legal consequences rather than health consequences for the infant itself.