Alcohol use before and during pregnancy: a population-based study

Content Provider	Scilit
Author	Alvik, Astrid Heyerdahl, Sonja Haldorsen, Tor Lindemann, Rolf
Copyright Year	2006
Description	Journal: Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica Background. Few population‐based studies have estimated alcohol consumption and binge drinking before and during pregnancy. Methods. The study is a longitudinal questionnaire study. In Norway, virtually 100% attend an ultrasound screening at 17–18 weeks of pregnancy. In Oslo, a representative sample attending this between June 2000 and May 2001 were invited to join the study, accepted by 92%. Non‐Norwegian‐speaking and/or immigrants from non‐Western countries were not invited; 1,749 (93%) completed the first questionnaire. Measures: T‐ACE (screening for pregnancy risk drinking), frequency of alcohol use, Standard Units (SU) per occasion, SU/week, and binge drinking (≥5 SU per occasion). Binary logistic regression analyses, Student's t‐test and Pearson's chi square were used. Results. Alcohol use was reported by 89% pre‐pregnancy and by 23% after pregnancy week 12. Binge drinking was reported by 59% pre‐pregnancy and by 25% during weeks 0–6. Change of drinking pattern occurred at pregnancy recognition for 85%, although 78% had planned the pregnancy, fetal welfare being the main reason. Participants reporting alcohol use during pregnancy were older, smokers, with more SU/week pre‐pregnancy, had some elevated anxiety score, higher income, and a partner with higher education. However, mental health, high income, or education were not predictive of usually drinking 1 SU per occasion or more, and not of binge drinking. The latter was predicted mainly by smoking during pregnancy and being T‐ACE positive. Conclusions. The study shows a drinking pattern before pregnancy recognition that, according to other studies, in 25% or more may cause suboptimal fetal development.
Ending Page	1298
Starting Page	1292
ISSN	00221295
e-ISSN	16000412
DOI	10.1080/00016340600589958
Journal	Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica
Issue Number	11
Volume Number	85
Language	English
Publisher	Wiley-Blackwell
Publisher Date	2006-01-01
Access Restriction	Open
Subject Keyword	Journal: Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica Public, Environmental and Occupational Health
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Obstetrics and Gynecology