Effects of Knowledge and Recognition of Alcohol Use during Pregnancy on Actual Alcohol Use during Pregnancy

Effects of an Alcohol-Related Harm Prevention Program among Out-of-School Female Adolescents

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of an alcohol-related harm prevention program on out-of-school adolescent girls. This was a quasi-experimental study employing a randomized controlled non-synchronized design. There were 23 and 22 participants in the experimental and control groups, respectively. The program comprised three sessions aiming to motivate voluntary changes and promote autonomous decision-making. The experimental group showed significantly higher alcohol-related knowledge and substantially lower alcohol outcome expectancy than the control group. No significant differences emerged from drinking refusal, self-efficacy, or alcohol abstinence intention. This program could improve alcohol-related knowledge and reduce out-of-school adolescent girls' positive alcohol outcome expectancy.

Korean mothers' alcohol consumption trajectories from childbirth to 6 years postpartum and children's executive function difficulties at first grade

PURPOSE

This study aims to identify Korean mothers' alcohol consumption trajectories during early parenthood (from birth to 6 years postpartum) and to examine associations between these trajectories and their children's executive function difficulties at first grade (age 7).

METHODS

Participants were 1010 mothers and their children, a subset of the Panel Study of Korean Children. Mothers' postpartum alcohol consumption trajectories were identified using growth mixture modeling. Children's executive function difficulties by the trajectories were examined using factorial analysis of covariance.

RESULTS

Korean mothers' alcohol consumption trajectories during early parenthood were heterogeneous. Mothers developed one of four alcohol consumption patterns: stable low use (49.9%), increasing use (25.0%), chronic modest use (18.3%), and chronic high use (6.8%). Children's executive function difficulties as evaluated by first grade teachers differed by mothers' postpartum alcohol consumption trajectories. Children of chronic high users displayed more difficulties in planning-organization, behavioral control, and attention-concentration than did children of the other groups of mothers.

CONCLUSIONS

Mothers' chronic and excessive postpartum alcohol consumption during early parenthood can be a significant risk factor for difficulties in children's early executive function development. Early screening for mothers with unhealthy alcohol consumption habits is critical. Special attention and support should be afforded to their children's development and school adjustment.

[Comparison of Awareness about Alcohol Use during Pregnancy among Female College Students by Drinking Levels: Using the Theory of Planned Behavior]

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to examine the awareness of alcohol use during pregnancy and factors influencing the intention to abstain from alcohol during pregnancy by drinking levels.

METHODS

Utilizing a comparative descriptive design, a total of 359 female college students were recruited. Measurements were Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) variables related awareness of alcohol use during pregnancy, Korean Version of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, knowledge about alcohol use during pregnancy, and socio-demographic factors. Main variables were compared by drinking levels. The factors influencing the intention to abstain from alcohol during pregnancy were identified using hierarchical regression analysis.

RESULTS

Non-problematic alcohol behavior group (n=185) had higher the intention to abstain from alcohol during pregnancy than problematic alcohol behavior group (n=174) (t=3.13, p=.002). The significant TPB variables influencing the intention to abstain from alcohol during pregnancy were that attitudes (β =-.44, p<.001), subjective norms (β =.14, p=.026), and perceived behavior control (β =.19, p=.002) in non-problematic alcohol behavior group, whereas the corresponding variables in the problematic alcohol behavior group were attitudes (β =-.51, p<.001) and subjective norms (β =.21, p=.006).

CONCLUSION

It is necessary to increase the intention to abstain from alcohol during pregnancy for the female college students having problematic alcohol behavior. The following strategies are recommended for them; decreasing acceptable attitudes toward alcohol use during pregnancy and reinforcing the influence of social pressure toward to abstain from alcohol during pregnancy.

Trajectories of Alcohol Use and Binge Drinking Among Pregnant Inuit Women

BACKGROUND

This study investigated trajectories of alcohol use and binge drinking among Inuit women starting from a year before pregnancy until a year after delivery, examined transition rates between time periods, and established whether specific factors could be identified as predictors of changes in alcohol behaviors.

METHODS

Drinking trajectories and movement among alcohol users and binge drinkers (i.e. non-binging and binging) were explored by Markov modeling across time periods. Two hundred and forty-eight Inuit women from Arctic Quebec were interviewed at mid-pregnancy, and at 1 and 11 months postpartum to obtain descriptive data on alcohol use during the year before pregnancy, the conception period, the pregnancy and the year after delivery.

RESULTS

The proportions of drinkers and bingers were 73 and 54% during the year prior to pregnancy and 62 and 33% after delivery. Both alcohol use and binge drinking trajectories demonstrated a significant drop in prevalence between the year before conception to the conception period. We also noted high probabilities of becoming an abstainer or not binging at this time. However, up to 60% of women continued to drink alcohol during pregnancy. Women in couples and not consuming marijuana were more likely to decrease their binge drinking at conception.

CONCLUSIONS

This study emphasizes the importance of including the period around conception in the definition of drinking patterns during pregnancy. The importance of considering alcohol consumption in a multidimensional way (personal, familial and social determinants) is also addressed while trying to minimize problems both for the fetus and the mother.