Fiona Rossen1, David Newcombe1, Varsha Parag2, Lisa Underwood3, Samantha Marsh2, Sarah Berry3, Cameron Grant4, Susan Morton3, Chris Bullen2. 1. School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, Auckland. 2. National Institute for Health Innovation, The University of Auckland, Auckland. 3. Growing Up in New Zealand, and Centre for Longitudinal Research - He Ara ki Mua, The University of Auckland, Auckland. 4. Department of Paediatrics, The University of Auckland, Auckland.
Abstract
AIM: To examine alcohol consumption before and during pregnancy in the mothers of a contemporary sample of New Zealand children. METHOD: Analysis of data from the antenatal assessment of 6,822 women enrolled in the Growing Up in New Zealand study, using logistic regression models to examine associations between maternal alcohol use and maternal demographics, pregnancy planning and parity. RESULTS: Seventy-one percent of women drank alcohol before becoming pregnant, 23% during and 13% after the first trimester. The odds of drinking alcohol before pregnancy were significantly higher for younger women who were European or Māori with an unplanned pregnancy and in their first pregnancy; during the first trimester, higher for women who were European or Māori with no secondary school qualification, in their first pregnancy, with an unplanned pregnancy; and in the second and third trimesters, higher for European or Māori women aged 30 and over, in their first pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Drinking is common in New Zealand women before pregnancy, particularly among European and Māori women. Some women consume small amounts of alcohol and some engage in heavy drinking in pregnancy. Both are a risk for fetal harm. Population-wide and targeted measures are needed to reduce consumption overall and provide support to specific population groups.
AIM: To examine alcohol consumption before and during pregnancy in the mothers of a contemporary sample of New Zealand children. METHOD: Analysis of data from the antenatal assessment of 6,822 women enrolled in the Growing Up in New Zealand study, using logistic regression models to examine associations between maternal alcohol use and maternal demographics, pregnancy planning and parity. RESULTS: Seventy-one percent of women drank alcohol before becoming pregnant, 23% during and 13% after the first trimester. The odds of drinking alcohol before pregnancy were significantly higher for younger women who were European or Māori with an unplanned pregnancy and in their first pregnancy; during the first trimester, higher for women who were European or Māori with no secondary school qualification, in their first pregnancy, with an unplanned pregnancy; and in the second and third trimesters, higher for European or Māori women aged 30 and over, in their first pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Drinking is common in New Zealand women before pregnancy, particularly among European and Māori women. Some women consume small amounts of alcohol and some engage in heavy drinking in pregnancy. Both are a risk for fetal harm. Population-wide and targeted measures are needed to reduce consumption overall and provide support to specific population groups.