Alcohol use and its associated factors during pregnancy in Ethiopia: a population-based survey

Abstract

Background: Alcohol use during pregnancy is a modifiable health behavior that causes a range of health problems in infants, including impaired growth, stillbirth, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. However, there is lack of comprehensive information on alcohol use and associated factors during pregnancy using a population-based dataset in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of alcohol use during pregnancy and associated factors using a national, population-based survey.Methods: The study utilized data from the 2011 and 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey, a cross-sectional survey conducted on a nationally representative sample. The survey employed a multistage cluster sampling method to generate representative national and sub-national health and health related indicators. A total of 2,341 pregnant women were included in the analysis. Factors associated with alcohol use were identified using multivariable logistic regression model. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were computed to quantify the degree of association between independent variables and alcohol use.Results: In Ethiopia, the prevalence of alcohol use among pregnant women was 30.2% (95% CI: 28.4%-32.2%). The study identified that being employed (AOR: 2.07; 95%CI: 1.55-2.77), ever attempted termination of pregnancy (AOR: 2.21; 95% CI: 1.60-3.05), having two (AOR: 2.56; 95% CI: 1.76-3.72), or three (AOR: 2.98; 95% CI: 1.40-6.35) sexual partners in lifetime and chat chewing (AOR: 8.91; 95% CI: 4.61-17.23) had increased the odds of alcohol use during pregnancy.Conclusion: In this study, the prevalence of alcohol use during pregnancy among Ethiopian mothers was high. Working status, ever used something to terminate the pregnancy, more than one lifetime partner, and chat chewing were factors associated with alcohol use during pregnancy. Thus, prevention interventions and strategies can draw on the identified modifiable health behaviors.

Alcohol consumption and its determinants among pregnant women in Gozamin district, Amhara, Ethiopia, 2020

“…On the other hand, the prevalence of alcohol consumption among pregnant women in this study was greater than other studies conducted in Ethiopia (30.2%), 42 the Netherlands (22%), 32 Sweden (6%), 31 Korea (16.4%), 43 Brazil (15.2%), 44 and the United States (30.3%). 30 The possible reason for the lower prevalence in Sweden might be the different study populations, in which only pregnant women with a gestational age more than 18 weeks were included.…”

Alcohol use and associated factors among pregnant women during the mid-pandemic of COVID-19 at Debre Tabor Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia

“… 10 In Ethiopia, the magnitude of alcohol consumption during pregnancy is estimated to be 30%. 11 Both manufactured and different locally made and culturally accepted alcoholic drinks are used with different estimated alcoholic contents (2–4% for “tela” (traditional beer), 7–11% for “teji” (honey wine), and up to 45% for “areki” (strong colorless liquor distilled from grain)). These alcoholic beverages are commonly consumed on a daily basis during meals, ceremonies (e.g., Eder, celebration of events), relaxation after work, and leisure activities.…”