Advances in the Determination of Alcohol and Other Drug Consumption during Pregnancy: A Study of 900 Births in Montevideo, Uruguay

Abstract

A study was performed in Uruguay to estimate the prevalence of drug consumption during pregnancy. The study consisted of a survey and biological samples to validate the responses and investigate information concerning risks involved in drug consumption during pregnancy. The survey consisted of 900 face-to-face interviews performed within 48 hours after birth. Perinatal registries were taken from hospital archives. Nine hundred meconium samples were tested for alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs, and tranquilizers. The results of the survey indicated consumption during pregnancy of the following: 41.3% tobacco, 36.8% alcohol, 16.3% tranquilizers, 68% caffeine (more than 400 mg/day), and 1.4% illegal drugs. In addition, 8.9% of the pregnancies were unplanned. Among the planned pregnancies, some physicians warned their patients about risks associated with tobacco (34%), alcohol (27%) and illegal drugs (7%). Meconium analysis revealed tobacco (cotinine), 51.8%; alcohol (fatty acid ethyl esters, or FAEES), 43.5%; and cocaine (base paste), 2.5%. Newborns whose mothers smoked tobacco presented statistically lower birth weights: 11% of all newborns at low birth weight, with health problems reported for 14.8%.

A comparison of the prevalence of prenatal alcohol exposure obtained via maternal self-reports versus meconium testing: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis

“…AUDIT: Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test; FAEE: fatty acid ethyl esters; n/a: not available; SES: socio-economic status. a Levels of increased sensitivity may not total percentage figures obtained via meconium testing divided by percentage figures obtained via self-reports due to rounding errors. b Pichini et al [44] reported results for two study sites (Italy and Spain). c Reported “daily” consumption. d Hutson et al [37] and Magri et al [38,39] were published in iteration. e Derauf et al [40,41] are dual publication. f Excludes 5 women who reported alcohol use during the first trimester only.…”

“…Nine studies on the prevalence of PAE, obtained via maternal self-reports and meconium testing (Hutson et al [ 37 ] and Magri et al [ 38 , 39 ] were published in iteration, and Derauf et al [ 40 , 41 ] are dual publications), were identified from the literature. Data on the prevalence of PAE, obtained via maternal self-reports and meconium testing, were available from only six countries: Canada [ 15 , 42 ], Germany [ 43 ], Italy [ 44 , 45 ], Spain [ 36 , 44 , 46 ], Uruguay [ 37 - 39 ], and the United States [ 40 , 41 ].…”

“…c Reported “daily” consumption. d Hutson et al [ 37 ] and Magri et al [ 38 , 39 ] were published in iteration. e Derauf et al [ 40 , 41 ] are dual publication.…”

Actual and predicted prevalence of alcohol consumption during pregnancy in Latin America and the Caribbean: systematic literature review and meta-analysis

“…Therefore, the predicted prevalence for Argentina (12.9%; 95%CI: 11.1%–14.7%) is more reasonable. Similarly, a study utilizing meconium testing in Montevideo, Uruguay, reported that 43.5% of samples tested positive for fatty acid ethyl esters above standard cut-off levels (i.e., 2 n mol/g) among women from low- and mid-to-low socioeconomic levels (63).…”

“…Few studies have reported the prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS; the most severe and visibly identifiable form of FASD) in South America. Specifically, it has been reported to be 0.1% among the general population of Brazil and Uruguay (11, 12). However, the prevalence of FAS and partial FAS among children in care in Chile has been reported to be much higher: 15% among those in foster homes (13), and 16% among those in child welfare custody and homes for those with mental deficiencies (14).…”