Abstract
Aims. To evaluate the use of a 7-day Retrospective Diary (RD) to assess peri-conceptual and mid-pregnancy alcohol consumption.
Background. Alcohol consumption among women has increased significantly, and is of international concern. Heavy episodic (‘binge’) drinking is commonplace, and is associated with unintended pregnancy. Pre-pregnancy drinking is strongly associated with continued drinking in pregnancy. Evidence for standardised routine antenatal assessment of alcohol history and current drinking is patchy; consumption patterns are often not identified. Alcohol-exposed pregnancies may therefore be missed.
Design. Cross-sectional study (n=510) in two Scottish health board areas.
Methods. Face-to-face RD administration from February to June 2015 assessing alcohol consumption in peri-conceptual and mid-pregnancy periods. Women were recruited at the mid-pregnancy ultrasound clinic.
Results. Of 510 women, 470 (92.0%) drank alcohol before their pregnancy; 187 (39.9%) drank every week. Retrospective assessment of peri-conceptual consumption identified heavy episodic drinking (more than six units on one occasion) in 52.2% (n=266); 19.6% (n=100) reported drinking more than 14 units per week, mostly at the weekend; ‘mixing’ of drinks was associated with significantly higher consumption. While consumption tailed off following pregnancy recognition, 5.5% (n=28) still drank above recommended daily guidelines for pregnant women.
Conclusion. Significant peri-conceptual consumption levels suggest a substantial proportion of alcohol-exposed pregnancies. Not taking a detailed alcohol history, including patterns of consumption, will result in under-detection of alcohol-exposed pregnancies. The RD offers practitioners a detailed way of enquiring about alcohol history for this population.
Background. Alcohol consumption among women has increased significantly, and is of international concern. Heavy episodic (‘binge’) drinking is commonplace, and is associated with unintended pregnancy. Pre-pregnancy drinking is strongly associated with continued drinking in pregnancy. Evidence for standardised routine antenatal assessment of alcohol history and current drinking is patchy; consumption patterns are often not identified. Alcohol-exposed pregnancies may therefore be missed.
Design. Cross-sectional study (n=510) in two Scottish health board areas.
Methods. Face-to-face RD administration from February to June 2015 assessing alcohol consumption in peri-conceptual and mid-pregnancy periods. Women were recruited at the mid-pregnancy ultrasound clinic.
Results. Of 510 women, 470 (92.0%) drank alcohol before their pregnancy; 187 (39.9%) drank every week. Retrospective assessment of peri-conceptual consumption identified heavy episodic drinking (more than six units on one occasion) in 52.2% (n=266); 19.6% (n=100) reported drinking more than 14 units per week, mostly at the weekend; ‘mixing’ of drinks was associated with significantly higher consumption. While consumption tailed off following pregnancy recognition, 5.5% (n=28) still drank above recommended daily guidelines for pregnant women.
Conclusion. Significant peri-conceptual consumption levels suggest a substantial proportion of alcohol-exposed pregnancies. Not taking a detailed alcohol history, including patterns of consumption, will result in under-detection of alcohol-exposed pregnancies. The RD offers practitioners a detailed way of enquiring about alcohol history for this population.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 375-385 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Journal of Advanced Nursing |
| Volume | 73 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Early online date | 26 Sept 2016 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 28 Feb 2017 |
Keywords
- alcohol consumption
- antenatal
- binge drinking
- midwives
- pregnancy
- prenatal care
- questionnaires
- teratogenesis