Alcohol use before and during pregnancy in western Washington, 1989-2004: implications for the prevention of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders

Abstract

OBJECTIVES-We examined trends in rates of self-reported pregnancy alcohol use among women in Western Washington. STUDY DESIGN-Between 1989 and 2004 we conducted three studies in Western WashingtonState on problems associated with maternal prenatal alcohol or drug abuse (N = 12,526). To determine study eligibility, we screened hospitalized postpartum women for alcohol and drug use in the month prior to and during pregnancy. We examined trends in alcohol use rates and identified characteristics associated with any drinking and binge drinking (≥ 5 drinks on any occasion). RESULTS-We found a substantial decrease in pregnancy alcohol use between 1989 and 2004(from 30% to 12%) across almost all demographic categories. Binge drinking in the month prior to pregnancy increased significantly among all race categories except Native American.CONCLUSIONS-Increased pre-pregnancy binge drinking rates may estimate alcohol use during very early gestation, and warrant clinical attention because of the potential for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Associations with Overeating and Obesity

“…Fetal alcohol syndrome was first identified in 1973 as a condition with severe birth defects, including facial disfiguration and mental retardation, and was associated with heavy maternal alcohol use during pregnancy. However, it was not until the 1980s that the US Surgeon General issued an advisory recommending that women abstain from drinking alcohol during pregnancy, and almost a decade later before health warning labels were added to alcoholic beverage containers [46]. During the late-1980s, it was estimated that about 30% of American women were still drinking alcohol during pregnancy despite these warnings, so one can only assume the rates were considerably higher before that time, especially with the growing visibility of female alcoholism in the decades following World War II [47].…”

Monthly Estimates of Alcohol Drinking During Pregnancy: United States, 2002–2011

“…This approach can yield measurement problems, not the least of which is a memory recall or reporting error (Cheng et al, 2011;Floyd et al, 1999;Grant et al, 2009;Zhao et al, 2012). This study's data constrain this threat via questions that are focused specifically on the 30 days before assessment, with sampling that encompasses all U.S. community-dwelling women, and with a measurement approach such that women are asked whether they are pregnant and the month of pregnancy (insofar as it is known), within the context of the NSDUH general health interview module.…”

Prevenção da síndrome alcoólica fetal: subsídios para a prática de enfermeiras obstétricas [Prevention of fetal alcohol syndrome: input to obstetrical nurses’ practice]

“…A primeira categoria foi constituída por sete artigos [11][12][13][14][15][16][17] , totalizando 47% dos estudos; a segunda, por oito [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] , totalizando 53%.…”

“…Discute-se os conhecimentos e práticas de gestantes e profissionais da saúde sobre o uso do álcool na gravidez e as estratégias para a sua prevenção [11][12][13][14][15][16][17] . …”

“…A transmissão de conhecimento à gestante por profissionais da área da saúde, também, foi discutida em outro artigo, como estratégia de prevenção, considerando-se o desconhecimento da gravidez, período de organogênese e quantidade e exposição ao álcool 16 . Do mesmo modo, tal artigo ressalta a importância da divulgação de saberes para a comunidade de forma simples e direta.…”