Clare McCormack1,2,3, Delyse Hutchinson1,4,5, Lucy Burns1, Judy Wilson1, Elizabeth Elliott6, Steve Allsop7, Jake Najman8, Sue Jacobs9, Larissa Rossen1, Craig Olsson4,5, Richard Mattick1. 1. National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. 2. Australian Centre for Perinatal Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. 3. Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, New York. 4. Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia. 5. Department of Paediatrics, The Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and The University of Melbourne, Royal Children's Hospital, Victoria, Australia. 6. Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. 7. National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. 8. Queensland Alcohol & Drug Research Education Centre, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. 9. Department of Obstetrics, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Current estimates of the rates of alcohol-exposed pregnancies may underestimate prenatal alcohol exposure if alcohol consumption in early trimester 1, prior to awareness of pregnancy, is not considered. Extant literature describes predictors of alcohol consumption during pregnancy; however, alcohol consumption prior to awareness of pregnancy is a distinct behavior from consumption after becoming aware of pregnancy and thus may be associated with different predictors. The purpose of this study was therefore to examine prevalence and predictors of alcohol consumption by women prior to awareness of their pregnancy, and trajectories of change to alcohol use following pregnancy recognition. METHODS: Pregnant women (n = 1,403) were prospectively recruited from general antenatal clinics of 4 public hospitals in Australian metropolitan areas between 2008 and 2013. Women completed detailed interviews about alcohol use before and after recognition of pregnancy. RESULTS: Most women (n = 850, 60.6%) drank alcohol between conception and pregnancy recognition. Binge and heavy drinking were more prevalent than low-level drinking. The proportion of women who drank alcohol reduced to 18.3% (n = 257) after recognition of pregnancy. Of women who drank alcohol, 70.5% ceased drinking, 18.3% reduced consumption, and 11.1% made no reduction following awareness of pregnancy. Socioeconomic status (SES) was the strongest predictor of alcohol use, with drinkers more likely to be of high rather than low SES compared with abstainers (OR = 3.30, p < 0.001). Factors associated with different trajectories (either cessation, reduction, or continuation of drinking) included level of alcohol use prior to pregnancy recognition, age, pregnancy planning, and illicit substance use. CONCLUSIONS: In this sample of relatively high SES women, most women ceased or reduced drinking once aware of their pregnancy. However, the rate of alcohol-exposed pregnancies was higher than previous estimates when the period prior to pregnancy recognition was taken into account.
BACKGROUND: Current estimates of the rates of alcohol-exposed pregnancies may underestimate prenatal alcohol exposure if alcohol consumption in early trimester 1, prior to awareness of pregnancy, is not considered. Extant literature describes predictors of alcohol consumption during pregnancy; however, alcohol consumption prior to awareness of pregnancy is a distinct behavior from consumption after becoming aware of pregnancy and thus may be associated with different predictors. The purpose of this study was therefore to examine prevalence and predictors of alcohol consumption by women prior to awareness of their pregnancy, and trajectories of change to alcohol use following pregnancy recognition. METHODS: Pregnant women (n = 1,403) were prospectively recruited from general antenatal clinics of 4 public hospitals in Australian metropolitan areas between 2008 and 2013. Women completed detailed interviews about alcohol use before and after recognition of pregnancy. RESULTS: Most women (n = 850, 60.6%) drank alcohol between conception and pregnancy recognition. Binge and heavy drinking were more prevalent than low-level drinking. The proportion of women who drank alcohol reduced to 18.3% (n = 257) after recognition of pregnancy. Of women who drank alcohol, 70.5% ceased drinking, 18.3% reduced consumption, and 11.1% made no reduction following awareness of pregnancy. Socioeconomic status (SES) was the strongest predictor of alcohol use, with drinkers more likely to be of high rather than low SES compared with abstainers (OR = 3.30, p < 0.001). Factors associated with different trajectories (either cessation, reduction, or continuation of drinking) included level of alcohol use prior to pregnancy recognition, age, pregnancy planning, and illicit substance use. CONCLUSIONS: In this sample of relatively high SES women, most women ceased or reduced drinking once aware of their pregnancy. However, the rate of alcohol-exposed pregnancies was higher than previous estimates when the period prior to pregnancy recognition was taken into account.
Authors: Alexandra C Sundermann; Sifang Zhao; Chantay L Young; LeAnn Lam; Sarah H Jones; Digna R Velez Edwards; Katherine E Hartmann Journal: Alcohol Clin Exp Res Date: 2019-07-03 Impact factor: 3.455
Authors: Joshua L Roffman; Eren D Sipahi; Kevin F Dowling; Dylan E Hughes; Casey E Hopkinson; Hang Lee; Hamdi Eryilmaz; Lee S Cohen; Jodi Gilman; Alysa E Doyle; Erin C Dunn Journal: PLoS One Date: 2021-04-28 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Philip A May; Christina D Chambers; Wendy O Kalberg; Jennifer Zellner; Haruna Feldman; David Buckley; David Kopald; Julie M Hasken; Ronghui Xu; Gordon Honerkamp-Smith; Howard Taras; Melanie A Manning; Luther K Robinson; Margaret P Adam; Omar Abdul-Rahman; Keith Vaux; Tamison Jewett; Amy J Elliott; Julie A Kable; Natacha Akshoomoff; Daniel Falk; Judith A Arroyo; Dale Hereld; Edward P Riley; Michael E Charness; Claire D Coles; Kenneth R Warren; Kenneth Lyons Jones; H Eugene Hoyme Journal: JAMA Date: 2018-02-06 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: Larissa Rossen; Richard P Mattick; Judy Wilson; Philip J Clare; Lucinda Burns; Steve Allsop; Elizabeth J Elliott; Sue Jacobs; Craig A Olsson; Delyse Hutchinson Journal: Matern Child Health J Date: 2019-12
Authors: A Finlay-Jones; M Symons; W Tsang; R Mullan; H Jones; A McKenzie; L Cannon; B Birda; N Reynolds; P Sargent; H Gailes; D Mayers; E J Elliott; C Bower Journal: Int J Popul Data Sci Date: 2020-12-10
Authors: Alexandra C Sundermann; Digna R Velez Edwards; James C Slaughter; Pingsheng Wu; Sarah H Jones; Eric S Torstenson; Katherine E Hartmann Journal: Am J Obstet Gynecol Date: 2020-07-13 Impact factor: 8.661