Prevalence and predictors of alcohol use during pregnancy: findings from international multicentre cohort studies

ObjectivesTo compare the prevalence and predictors of alcohol use in multiple cohorts.DesignCross-cohort comparison of retrospective and prospective studies.SettingPopulation-based studies in Ireland, the UK, Australia and New Zealand.Participants17 244 women of predominantly Caucasian origin from t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMJ open 2015-01, Vol.5 (7), p.e006323-e006323
Main Authors: O'Keeffe, Linda M, Kearney, Patricia M, McCarthy, Fergus P, Khashan, Ali S, Greene, Richard A, North, Robyn A, Poston, Lucilla, McCowan, Lesley M E, Baker, Philip N, Dekker, Gus A, Walker, James J, Taylor, Rennae, Kenny, Louise C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Alcohol Drinking - epidemiology
Alcohol use
Australia - epidemiology
Babies
Caregivers
Consent
Female
Health Behavior
Humans
Ireland - epidemiology
Linear Models
Longitudinal studies
Measurement techniques
Midwifery
Miscarriage
Mothers
New Zealand - epidemiology
Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Population
Population Surveillance
Preeclampsia
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications - epidemiology
Premature birth
Prognosis
Prospective Studies
Questionnaires
Retrospective Studies
Risk Assessment
Risk Factors
Smoking - epidemiology
United Kingdom - epidemiology
Womens health
Young Adult
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Summary:ObjectivesTo compare the prevalence and predictors of alcohol use in multiple cohorts.DesignCross-cohort comparison of retrospective and prospective studies.SettingPopulation-based studies in Ireland, the UK, Australia and New Zealand.Participants17 244 women of predominantly Caucasian origin from two Irish retrospective studies (Growing up in Ireland (GUI) and Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System Ireland (PRAMS Ireland)), and one multicentre prospective international cohort, Screening for Pregnancy Endpoints (SCOPE) study.Primary and secondary outcome measuresPrevalence of alcohol use pre-pregnancy and during pregnancy across cohorts. Sociodemographic factors associated with alcohol consumption in each cohort.ResultsAlcohol consumption during pregnancy in Ireland ranged from 20% in GUI to 80% in SCOPE, and from 40% to 80% in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Levels of exposure also varied substantially among drinkers in each cohort ranging from 70% consuming more than 1–2 units/week in the first trimester in SCOPE Ireland, to 46% and 15% in the retrospective studies. Smoking during pregnancy was the most consistent predictor of gestational alcohol use in all three cohorts, and smokers were 17% more likely to drink during pregnancy in SCOPE, relative risk (RR)=1.17 (95% CI 1.12 to 1.22), 50% more likely to drink during pregnancy in GUI, RR=1.50 (95% CI 1.36 to 1.65), and 42% more likely to drink in PRAMS, RR=1.42 (95% CI 1.18 to 1.70).ConclusionsOur data suggest that alcohol use during pregnancy is prevalent and socially pervasive in the UK, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia. New policy and interventions are required to reduce alcohol prevalence both prior to and during pregnancy. Further research on biological markers and conventions for measuring alcohol use in pregnancy is required to improve the validity and reliability of prevalence estimates.
ISSN:2044-6055
2044-6055
DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2014-006323