Risk factors for self-reported alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

Background: Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is the most common preventable cause of impaired fetal development. The amount of alcohol consumed by expectant mothers varies by country. Studies on the prevalence of alcohol use among pregnant women in Slovakia and the risk factors linked to alcohol consumption during pregnancy are scarce. Similarly lacking are the data regarding pregnant women's awareness of the negative consequences of alcohol use during pregnancy.

Methods: The study comprised women who gave birth at the 2nd Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics between July 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023. All respondents received an anonymous retrospective questionnaire following childbirth. The questionnaire investigated alcohol consumption throughout the year preceding conception as well as during each of the trimesters. The questionnaire also included questions on the woman's plans to become pregnant, her demographics, and her awareness of the hazards associated with alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

Results: A filled-out questionnaire was obtained from 402 women. Of these, 51 women (12.8%) reported being completely abstinent before becoming pregnant. Complete abstinence before pregnancy was the greatest strongest protection against drinking during pregnancy (RR: 0.03). Among the 351 women who drank before pregnancy, 108 women (30.8%) continued to drink while pregnant, which constitutes 26.9% of all pregnant women. Risk factors of alcohol use during pregnancy included unplanned pregnancy (RR: 1.32), inadequate knowledge of the negative consequences of alcohol intake during pregnancy (71.9% vs 75.4%), and heavy drinking prior to pregnancy (RR: 2.55).

Conclusions: In accordance with certain European data, the best means of protection against alcohol consumption during pregnancy include complete abstinence prior to conception, pregnancy planning, and high-quality education regarding the negative effects of alcohol during pregnancy (Tab. 4, Ref. 19). Text in PDF www.elis.sk Keywords: fetal alcohol syndrome spectrum, alcohol drinking in pregnancy, pregnancy planning, prenatal alcohol exposure, pregnancy.