Alcohol consumption and binge drinking in early pregnancy. A cross-sectional study with data from the Copenhagen Pregnancy Cohort

Maternal age and body mass index and risk of labor dystocia after spontaneous labor onset among nulliparous women: A clinical prediction model

INTRODUCTION

Obstetrics research has predominantly focused on the management and identification of factors associated with labor dystocia. Despite these efforts, clinicians currently lack the necessary tools to effectively predict a woman's risk of experiencing labor dystocia. Therefore, the objective of this study was to create a predictive model for labor dystocia.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study population included nulliparous women with a single baby in the cephalic presentation in spontaneous labor at term. With a cohort-based registry design utilizing data from the Copenhagen Pregnancy Cohort and the Danish Medical Birth Registry, we included women who had given birth from 2014 to 2020 at Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Denmark. Logistic regression analysis, augmented by a super learner algorithm, was employed to construct the prediction model with candidate predictors pre-selected based on clinical reasoning and existing evidence. These predictors included maternal age, pre-pregnancy body mass index, height, gestational age, physical activity, self-reported medical condition, WHO-5 score, and fertility treatment. Model performance was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) for discriminative capacity and Brier score for model calibration.

RESULTS

A total of 12,445 women involving 5,525 events of labor dystocia (44%) were included. All candidate predictors were retained in the final model, which demonstrated discriminative ability with an AUC of 62.3% (95% CI:60.7-64.0) and Brier score of 0.24.

CONCLUSIONS

Our model represents an initial advancement in the prediction of labor dystocia utilizing readily available information obtainable upon admission in active labor. As a next step further model development and external testing across other populations is warranted. With time a well-performing model may be a step towards facilitating risk stratification and the development of a user-friendly online tool for clinicians.

Screening of substance use in pregnancy: A Danish cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION

There is a paucity of objectively verified data on substance use among Danish pregnant women. We estimated the prevalence of substance use including alcohol and nicotine among the general population of Danish pregnant women.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In this anonymous, national, cross-sectional, descriptive study, pregnant women were invited when attending an ultrasound scan between November 2019 and December 2020 at nine Danish hospitals. Women submitted a urine sample and filled out a questionnaire. Urine samples were screened on-site with a qualitative urine dipstick for 15 substances including alcohol, nicotine, opioids, amphetamines, cannabis, and benzodiazepines. All screen-positive urine samples underwent secondary quantitative analyses with gold standard, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis. Results were compared to questionnaire information to analyze the validity of self-reporting and to examine possible cross-reactions.

RESULTS

A total of 1903 of 2154 invited pregnant women participated (88.3%). The prevalence of dipstick-positive urine samples was 25.0%. 44.0% of these were confirmed positive, resulting in a total confirmed prevalence of 10.8%. The prevalence of nicotine use was 10.1%-and for all other substances, <0.5%. Nicotine use was more prevalent among younger pregnant women, while other substance use appeared evenly distributed over age groups. Self-reporting of use of nicotine products was high (71.1%), but low for cannabis and alcohol intake (0% and 33.3%, respectively). Prescription medication explained almost all cases of oxycodone, methylphenidate, and benzodiazepine use.

CONCLUSIONS

Substance use among pregnant women consisted mainly of nicotine. Dipstick screening involved risks of false negatives and false positives. Except for alcohol intake and cannabis use, dipstick analyses did not seem to provide further information than self-reporting. LC-MS/MS analyses remain gold standard, and future role of dipstick screenings should be discussed.

Danish Diabetes Birth Registry 2: a study protocol of a national prospective cohort study to monitor outcomes of pregnancies of women with pre-existing diabetes

INTRODUCTION

Despite technological developments and intensified care, pregnancies in women with pre-existing diabetes are still considered high-risk pregnancies. The rate of adverse outcomes in pregnancies affected by diabetes in Denmark is currently unknown, and there is a limited understanding of mechanisms contributing to this elevated risk. To address these gaps, the Danish Diabetes Birth Registry 2 (DDBR2) was established. The aims of this registry are to evaluate maternal and fetal-neonatal outcomes based on 5 years cohort data, and to identify pathophysiology and risk factors associated with short-term and long-term outcomes of pregnancies in women with pre-existing diabetes.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The DDBR2 registry is a nationwide 5-year prospective cohort with an inclusion period from February 2023 to February 2028 of pregnancies in women with all types of pre-existing diabetes and includes registry, clinical and questionnaire data and biological samples of mother-partner-child trios. Eligible families (parents age ≥18 years and sufficient proficiency in Danish or English) can participate by either (1) basic level data obtained from medical records (mother and child) and questionnaires (partner) or (2) basic level data and additional data which includes questionnaires (mother and partner) and blood samples (all). The primary maternal outcome is Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels at the end of pregnancy and the primary offspring endpoint is the birth weight SD score. The DDBR2 registry will be complemented by genetic, epigenetic and metabolomic data as well as a biobank for future research, and the cohort will be followed through data from national databases to illuminate possible mechanisms that link maternal diabetes and other parental factors to a possible increased risk of adverse long-term child outcomes.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Approval from the Ethical Committee is obtained (S-20220039). Findings will be sought published in international scientific journals and shared among the participating hospitals and policymakers.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT05678543.

Prenatal Choline Supplementation Improves Glucose Tolerance and Reduces Liver Fat Accumulation in Mouse Offspring Exposed to Ethanol during the Prenatal and Postnatal Periods

Prenatal alcohol exposure (AE) affects cognitive development. However, it is unclear whether prenatal AE influences the metabolic health of offspring and whether postnatal AE exacerbates metabolic deterioration resulting from prenatal AE. Choline is a semi-essential nutrient that has been demonstrated to mitigate the cognitive impairment of prenatal AE. This study investigated how maternal choline supplementation (CS) may modify the metabolic health of offspring with prenatal and postnatal AE (AE/AE). C57BL/6J female mice were fed either a Lieber-DeCarli diet with 1.4% ethanol between embryonic day (E) 9.5 and E17.5 or a control diet. Choline was supplemented with 4 × concentrations versus the control throughout pregnancy. At postnatal week 7, offspring mice were exposed to 1.4% ethanol for females and 3.9% ethanol for males for 4 weeks. AE/AE increased hepatic triglyceride accumulation in male offspring only, which was normalized by prenatal CS. Prenatal CS also improved glucose tolerance compared to AE/AE animals. AE/AE suppressed hepatic gene expression of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha (Ppara) and low-density lipoprotein receptor (Ldlr), which regulate fatty acid catabolism and cholesterol reuptake, respectively, in male offspring. However, these changes were not rectified by prenatal CS. In conclusion, AE/AE led to an increased risk of steatosis and was partially prevented by prenatal CS in male mice.

Secular trends of socio-demographic and lifestyle characteristics among delivering women in Arctic Russia, 1973-2017

The aim of this study was to describe temporal trends in socio-demographic and lifestyle characteristics among delivering women in two Northern provinces of Russia from 1973 to 2017. Totally 161,730 births were registered in three birth registries. Changes in the distribution of maternal age, education, marital status, smoking during pregnancy were studied using Pearson's chi-squared tests and one-way ANOVA. The logistic regression models were used to assess factors, contributing to the variations in the prevalence of maternal smoking. The mean age of primiparous mothers increased from 22.1 years in 1973-1980 to 25.4 years in 2012-2017 (p < 0.001). The proportion of primiparous mothers with higher education increased from 26.2% in 2006 to 38.3% in 2017 (p < 0.001). The proportion of cohabiting primiparous women increased from 5.0% to 15.2% over the study period (p < 0.001). The proportion of mothers smoking during pregnancy decreased from 18.9% in 2006-2011 to 14.8% in 2012-2017 (p < 0.001). Downward in the prevalence of smoking was revealed in 2012-2017 compared to 2006-2011 (OR = 137.76; 95%CI:71.62-264.96, OR = 183.74; 95%CI:95.52-353.41, respectively). Over the past decades, women postpone childbearing until receiving higher education, continue living in cohabitation during pregnancy and smoke less.

Prevalence of alcohol use during pregnancy, Brazil, 2011-2012

This is a national cross-sectional, hospital-based study, which interviewed 23,894 postpartum women in 2011-2012 aiming to estimate the prevalence of alcohol use during pregnancy and identifying more vulnerable groups. Alcohol use during pregnancy was identified using the TWEAK scale, and women with a score of ≥ 2 were classified as having a "presumable diagnosis of inadequate alcohol use". The national prevalence of alcohol use and the prevalence in subgroups were calculated according to maternal characteristics, with respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Coexistence of smoking, inadequate prenatal consultations, and alcohol use during pregnancy were graphically identified. The prevalence of alcohol use was 14% (95%CI: 13.3-14.7), with 10% (95%CI: 9.3-10.6) of women presenting presumable diagnosis of inadequate alcohol us during pregnancy. Higher prevalence of alcohol use and presumable diagnosis of inadequate alcohol us was observed in black women, aged 12-19 years, with lower educational level, from a lower economic class, without a partner, without paid work, with more than three previous births, who did not want to get pregnant, with inadequate prenatal care, with previous delivery in public services, and who reported smoking during pregnancy. Among the interviewees, 1.2% presented all three risk factors for negative perinatal outcomes at the same time: smoking, alcohol use, and inadequate prenatal care. The results showed a high prevalence of alcohol use during pregnancy and presumable diagnosis of inadequate alcohol us, especially among women with worse social conditions. These data are relevant for the formulation of public policies to prevent alcohol use and provide support services to help this population stop alcohol use during pregnancy.

Retrospective cumulative dietary risk assessment of craniofacial alterations by residues of pesticides

EFSA established cumulative assessment groups and conducted retrospective cumulative risk assessments for two types of craniofacial alterations (alterations due to abnormal skeletal development, head soft tissue alterations and brain neural tube defects) for 14 European populations of women in childbearing age. Cumulative acute exposure calculations were performed by probabilistic modelling using monitoring data collected by Member States in 2017, 2018 and 2019. A rigorous uncertainty analysis was performed using expert knowledge elicitation. Considering all sources of uncertainty, their dependencies and differences between populations, it was concluded with varying degrees of certainty that the MOET resulting from cumulative exposure is above 100 for the two types of craniofacial alterations. The threshold for regulatory consideration established by risk managers is therefore not exceeded. Considering the severity of the effects under consideration, it was also assessed whether the MOET is above 500. This was the case with varying levels of certainty for the head soft tissue alterations and brain neural tube defects. However, for the alterations due to abnormal skeletal development, it was found about as likely as not that the MOET is above 500 in most populations. For two populations, it was even found more likely that the MOET is below 500. These results were discussed in the light of the conservatism of the methodological approach.

Lifestyle Habits among Pregnant Women in Denmark during the First COVID-19 Lockdown Compared with a Historical Period-A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study

The first national lockdown in Denmark due to the COVID-19 pandemic was declared on 11 March 2020. From this date, national restrictions were imposed. We aimed to assess the potential influence of this first nationwide lockdown on exercise, alcohol consumption, and smoking in early pregnancy. Using a cross-sectional study based on routinely collected patient-reported data, we compared the lifestyle habits of women who were pregnant during the first phase of the pandemic (COVID-19 group) (n = 685) with those of women who were pregnant the year before (Historical group) (n = 787). We found a reduction in any exercise (PR = 0.91, 95% CI (0.84 to 0.99), in adherence to national recommendations of exercise (PR = 0.89, 95% CI (0.80 to 0.99), in cycling (15% vs. 28%, p < 0.0001), and swimming (0.3% vs. 3%, p = 0.0002) in the COVID-19 group compared with the Historical group. The prevalence of binge drinking was reduced in the COVID-19 group compared with the Historical group (PR = 0.80, 95% CI (0.68 to 0.93). In contrast, the prevalence of any weekly alcohol consumption and smoking cessation during pregnancy was similar between groups. Our findings indicate that national restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the lifestyle habits of pregnant women and should be addressed in antenatal counseling.

Determinants of hazardous alcohol use among pregnant women attending antenatal care at public health facilities in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia: A nested case-control study

BACKGROUND

Alcohol use during pregnancy has a potential negative impact on the health of women and children. Binge or hazardous drinking may do greater alcohol-related damage to the developing fetus than drinking a comparable amount spread over several days or weeks. This study aimed to identify determinants of hazardous alcohol use among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Gondar town public health facilities, Northwest Ethiopia.

METHODS

An unmatched facility-based nested case-control study was carried out to identify the determinants of hazardous alcohol use among pregnant women within a prospective cohort study from 29 October 2019 to 7 May 2020. A two-stage random sampling technique was used to select 455 (113 cases and 342 controls) pregnant women. Data collection was performed using the AUDIT-C standardized and pretested questionnaire. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were computed to identify the predictors of alcohol consumption using the odds ratio, 95% CI, and p-value < 0.05.

RESULTS

Multivariable logistic regression model revealed that no formal education of the husbands [AOR = 2.79; 95%CI: 1.24, 6.29], being housewife[AOR = 2.43; 95%CI: 1.12, 5.26], poor household wealth index[AOR = 2.65; 95%CI: 1.07, 6.54], unplanned pregnancy [AOR = 4.36;95%CI: 2.44, 7.79], poor social support [AOR = 4.9;95%CI: 2.4, 10.04], depression[AOR = 3.84;95%CI: 2.16, 6.82], and not ever heard the risk of alcohol drinking during pregnancy [AOR = 1.97; 95%CI: 1.08, 3.58] were significantly associated with hazardous alcohol use.

CONCLUSIONS

Routine alcohol screening during ANC visits creates an appropriate referral system for clinical management and provides an opportunity for healthcare workers to offer information on the potential risks associated with alcohol use in pregnancy. Antenatal care providers have a special role to play in assuring that women receive adequate advice about alcohol use and care to manage the problems especially for pregnant women with depression, poor social support, unplanned pregnancy, low socioeconomic status, and for housewives during the antenatal visits. The warning marks on alcoholic beverages including an ongoing message about the risks of alcohol use during pregnancy could be public health good strategies to minimize preventable harms attributed to alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

Worries among pregnant Danish women with chronic medical conditions - A cross sectional study with data from the Copenhagen pregnancy cohort

OBJECTIVE

Pregnancy is a time of uncertainty and worries are common. Pregnant women with somatic chronic medical conditions (SCMC) are at higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes and perinatal mental illness than women without SCMC. We aimed to describe the degree and content of worries in early pregnancy among Danish women with SCMC compared with women without SCMC.

STUDY DESIGN

We conducted a cross-sectional study with self-reported questionnaires answered by 28,794 women from 2012─2019 during 1st trimester at a large university hospital in Denmark.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

We used the Cambridge Worry Scale (CWS). The outcomes of interest were the prevalence of major worry at item level (n/%) and the total CWS score (mean/SEM) as expression of the degree and content of worries. Univariate and multivariable regression analysis were performed.

RESULTS

Women with SCMC reported a significantly higher total CWS score (aMD 1.50, 95% CI: 1.20-1.80). Women with SCMC were significantly more likely to report major worry in relation to own health (aOR 2.72, 95% CI: 2.43-3.08), the baby's health (aOR 1.40 95% CI 1.31-1.52), the process of giving birth (aOR 1.12, 95% CI: 1.04-1.21), the possibility of preterm labor (aOR 1.44, 95% CI: 1.28-1.63), and miscarriage (aOR 1.34, 95% CI: 1.24-1.43).

CONCLUSION

Women with SCMC reported higher overall degree of worry during early pregnancy and an increased risk of major worry in relation to own health, pregnancy complications and giving birth. In antenatal care, these worries should be addressed by clinicians.

Degree of pregnancy planning and recommended pregnancy planning behavior among women with and without chronic medical conditions - A large hospital-based cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION

Pregnancy planning allows women to engage in pregnancy planning behaviors to optimize health status in the preconception period. Women with chronic medical conditions have a higher risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes and therefore preconception care is recommended. The aim was to compare pregnancy planning among women with and without chronic medical conditions, and to assess adherence to the recommended pregnancy planning behaviors on folic acid intake, physical activity and abstention from smoking and alcohol, among women with and without chronic medical conditions stratified by pregnancy planning.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study with data from 28 794 pregnancies. Pregnancy planning was measured with the Swedish Pregnancy Planning Scale. Multiple Poisson regression with robust variance estimates was used to assess the associations between chronic medical condition (yes/no and main categories) and pregnancy planning, and chronic medical condition status and pregnancy planning behaviors stratified by pregnancy planning.

RESULTS

In the study population, 74% reported high degree of pregnancy planning, and 22% had one or more chronic medical conditions. We found no overall association between chronic medical condition and pregnancy planning (adjusted rate ratio [RR] 1.00, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.98-1.01). However, women with type 2 diabetes and mental illness were significantly less likely to plan their pregnancies than women without these conditions (aRR 0.73, 95% CI 0.61-0.88; aRR 0.91, 95% CI 0.87-0.96, respectively). Women with chronic medical conditions were more likely to adhere to the recommended planning behaviors; intake of folic acid, abstention from alcohol prior to pregnancy and no binge drinking in early pregnancy.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, pregnancies were highly planned. Women with chronic medical conditions did not show a higher degree of pregnancy planning than women without chronic medical conditions but were, however. more likely to adhere to the generally recommended pregnancy planning behaviors (ie intake of folic acid and abstention from alcohol intake). Only women with mental illness and type 2 diabetes reported a lower degree of pregnancy planning. It is important that we continuously address pregnancy planning and planning behaviors for both women with and women without chronic medical conditions, especially women with type 2 diabetes and mental illness.

Various forms of alcohol use and their predictors among pregnant women in post conflict northern Uganda: a cross sectional study

Background

Alcohol use during pregnancy has been associated with several births and developmental disorders. This study set out to determine the various forms of alcohol consumption among pregnant women and their predictors in post conflict Northern Uganda.

Methods

In the months of May to June 2019, we conducted a cross sectional study among 420 pregnant women seeking antenatal care services at both Government and private health facilities in Gulu, Kitgum and Pader districts in Northern Uganda. We asked them about consumption of various alcoholic beverages. A three stage stratified cluster sampling approach was used and study participants randomly selected from health facilities of interest. We used descriptive statistics to estimate the prevalence of various forms of alcohol use. The chi- square test and logistic regression were used to assess associations of alcohol use among respondents and their socio - demographic and other characteristics.

Results

Overall 99 women (23.6%) reported current alcohol use (any amount). Up to 11% (N = 11) of all drinkers were identified by the AUDIT to be women with problem drinking behavior, 8% (N = 8) of women reported hazardous drinking and only four (4%) were women with active alcohol dependent behavior. Predictors of maternal alcohol use included pre-pregnancy alcohol consumption, knowledge, attitude, education level, parity and residence.

Conclusions

This study indicates that alcohol use (any mount) during pregnancy is high while alcohol dependence, problematic and hazardous drinking is low. Knowledge and attitude were important predictors of alcohol use. While alleviating alcohol use, development partners and relevant government departments should consider communication and other interventions that increase knowledge and risk perception on maternal drinking. Other risk factors that predict maternal drinking such as prior alcohol use, residence and parity should be mitigated or eliminated.

Binge drinking during pregnancy and psychosis-like experiences in the child at age 11

Increased frequency of psychosis-like experiences (PLEs) has been previously reported in children born to mothers with high general levels of alcohol intake during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to examine whether the risk of PLEs was likewise elevated in children prenatally exposed to binge drinking. Participants were 44,326 children and their mothers enrolled in the Danish National Birth Cohort from 1996-2002. Information on maternal binge drinking was collected twice in pregnancy by telephone interview and PLEs in the children were ascertained in a Web-based questionnaire at age 11. Analyses were carried out using weighted multinomial logistic regression models. Maternal binge drinking was relatively common among the participating women (27%). The adjusted relative risk ratio (RRR) for reporting one definite PLE symptom was 1.04 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.95-1.13) and 1.06 (95% CI 0.95-1.20) for two or more symptoms in children exposed compared to unexposed to binge drinking during pregnancy. Furthermore, no association was found when addressing frequency and timing of binge drinking, nor for various levels of average alcohol consumption. When sub-dividing PLEs into specific types of experiences however, a slightly, although non-significant, increased risk was observed for one specific delusional idea, receiving messages from radio/TV, following prenatal exposure to binge drinking. Our results provide no evidence of an association between maternal binge drinking, nor average alcohol consumption in pregnancy, and overall occurrence of PLEs in the offspring. However, our results indicated that binge drinking might be related to a specific PLE.

Alcohol Intake in Early Pregnancy and Spontaneous Preterm Birth: A Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Limited research has addressed whether maternal alcohol intake in early pregnancy increases the risk of spontaneous preterm birth. In the current study, we examined how alcohol binge drinking and weekly alcohol intake in early pregnancy were associated with spontaneous preterm birth in a contemporary cohort of Danish women.

METHODS

We included 15,776 pregnancies of 14,894 women referred to antenatal care at Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark, between 2012 and 2016. Self-reported alcohol intake in early pregnancy was obtained from a Web-based questionnaire completed prior to the women's first visit at the department. Information on spontaneous preterm birth was extracted from the Danish Medical Birth Register. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of spontaneous preterm birth according to self-reported alcohol binge drinking and weekly intake of alcohol in early pregnancy were derived from Cox regression.

RESULTS

Women reporting 1, 2, and ≥ 3 binge drinking episodes had an aHR for spontaneous preterm birth of 0.88 (95% CI 0.68 to 1.14), 1.34 (95% CI 0.98 to 1.82), and 0.93 (95% CI 0.62 to 1.41), respectively, compared to women with no binge drinking episodes. Women who reported an intake of ≥ 1 drink per week on average had an aHR for spontaneous preterm birth of 1.09 (95% CI 0.63 to 1.89) compared to abstainers. When restricting to nulliparous women or cohabiting women with ≥ 3 years of higher education, this estimate was 1.28 (95% CI 0.69 to 2.40) and 1.20 (95% CI 0.67 to 2.15), respectively.

CONCLUSION

We found no evidence that maternal alcohol intake in early pregnancy was associated with a higher risk of spontaneous preterm birth, neither for alcohol binge drinking nor for a low average weekly intake of alcohol.

Alcohol Intake in Early Pregnancy and Risk of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children Up to 19 Years of Age: A Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Little is known about maternal alcohol intake in early pregnancy and the risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children beyond 5 years of age. We examined the association between alcohol binge drinking and weekly alcohol intake in early pregnancy and the risk of ADHD in children followed from birth to 19 years of age.

METHODS

We included 48,072 children born between 1998 and 2012, whose mothers participated in the Aarhus Birth Cohort. Maternal alcohol intake was obtained from a self-administered questionnaire completed in early pregnancy. ADHD diagnoses were retrieved from the Danish Psychiatric Central Research Register and the Danish National Patient Register. Crude hazard ratio and adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of ADHD according to alcohol binge drinking or weekly intake of alcohol were calculated using the Cox regression.

RESULTS

Compared to children of women with no binge drinking episodes, we observed an aHR for ADHD of 0.91 (95% CI 0.76 to 1.08), 0.73 (95% CI 0.56 to 0.96), and 0.77 (95% CI 0.57 to 1.06) among children of women reporting 1, 2, and 3 or more binge drinking episodes, respectively. Among children of women drinking <1 drink per week, 1 drink per week, 2 drinks per week, and 3 or more drinks per week, we observed an aHR for ADHD of 0.87 (95% CI 0.74 to 1.03), 0.63 (95% CI 0.40 to 0.98), 1.30 (95% CI 0.89 to 1.92), and 0.78 (95% CI 0.38 to 1.59), respectively, when compared to children of women not drinking on a weekly basis.

CONCLUSION

We found no evidence that binge drinking or low alcohol intake in early pregnancy was associated with the risk of ADHD in children.

Alkoholkonsum während der Schwangerschaft

Zusammenfassung. Kinder sind bereits im Mutterleib sensitiv für Umwelteinflüsse. Pränataler Alkoholkonsum zählt dabei zu den einflussreichsten Risikofaktoren für die frühkindliche Entwicklung. Das Ziel ist es, einen Überblick über die aktuelle Forschungslage zum Thema Alkoholkonsum während der Schwangerschaft zu geben. Darüber hinaus wird der Forschungsstand zu Belastungen und Folgeschäden für die frühkindliche Entwicklung durch pränatale Alkoholexposition, aber auch zu weiteren Risikofaktoren zusammengefasst. Es wird gezeigt, dass das Wissen um die Prävalenz für Alkoholkonsum während der Schwangerschaft sowohl für die Erforschung der Folgen als auch für das Umsetzen von präventiven Maßnahmen ausschlaggebend ist. Die Prävalenzen unterscheiden sich nicht nur regional, sondern können auch durch andere Faktoren beeinflusst werden. Es wird deutlich, dass der Risikofaktor Alkohol und dessen mögliche Auswirkungen auf die frühkindliche Entwicklung nicht isoliert, sondern in Abhängigkeit von weiteren genetischen und Umweltfaktoren betrachtet werden müssen. Denn auch Folgen von weiteren perinatalen Risikofaktoren machen sich in den ersten beiden Lebensjahren bemerkbar. Beispiele für Entwicklungsstörungen in dieser Entwicklungsspanne sind externalisierendes Verhalten und kognitive Beeinträchtigungen. Inwieweit sich perinatale Risikofaktoren jedoch auf Entwicklungsverläufe von Kindern, die durch pränatalen Alkoholkonsum belastet sind, auswirken, erfasst eine umfassende Diskussion. Diese Lücke gilt es zu schließen um das Zusammenspiel perinataler Risiken genauer zu verstehen und adäquat entgegenwirken zu können.

Alcohol misuse among women in Brazil: recent trends and associations with unprotected sex, early pregnancy, and abortion

Objective:

This study compared the rates of binge drinking (BD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) reported for 2006 with those reported for 2012, exploring their associations with unprotected sex, early pregnancy, and abortion in a representative sample of women in Brazilian households.

Methods:

This was a descriptive analysis of data from a cross-sectional study involving randomized multistage cluster sampling of the population ≥ 14 years of age. Weighted prevalence rates and odds ratios were estimated, and serial mediation analysis was performed.

Results:

A total of 4,256 women were analyzed. The BD prevalence was 35.1% and 47.1% in 2006 and 2012, respectively, a significant increase, especially among women 40-59 years of age. There was no significant difference in AUD prevalence. BD (without AUD) was found to increase the odds of unprotected sex and abortion. The path analysis showed that early pregnancy was a mediator of the relationship between alcohol consumption and abortion.

Conclusion:

Among women in Brazil, the harmful use of alcohol is increasing, which has an impact on female reproductive health and exposure to risks. There is a need for specific prevention initiatives focusing on alcohol-related behaviors in women.

Using eHealth to Increase Autonomy Supportive Care: A Multicenter Intervention Study in Antenatal Care

eHealth solutions are increasingly implemented in antenatal care to enhance women's involvement. The main aim of this study was to evaluate women's assessment of autonomy supportive care during the antenatal care visits among low-risk pregnant women. An intervention study was conducted including a control group attending standard antenatal care and an intervention group having access to an eHealth knowledge base, in addition to standard care. A total of 87 women were included in the control group and a total of 121 women in the intervention group. Data were collected using an online questionnaire 2 weeks after participants had given birth. Data were analyzed using χ tests and Wilcoxon rank sums. Use of an eHealth knowledge base was associated with statistically significant higher scores for women's overall assessment of antenatal care visits, the organization of antenatal care visits, confidence after antenatal care visits, and involvement during antenatal care visits. We also found a statistically significant higher overall self-perceived autonomy supportive care in the intervention group compared with the control group.

Screening for recommended antenatal risk factors: How long does it take?

BACKGROUND

Detection and management of antenatal risk factors is critical for quality care.

AIMS

To determine (1) women's views about when they should be asked about antenatal health factors as recommended in the Australian antenatal guidelines; and (2) the time required to provide recommended care using a clinical scenario.

METHODS

In Phase 1, pregnant women attending an outpatient obstetrics clinic at a public hospital were surveyed about preferred screening for antenatal risk factors during visit(s). In Phase 2, a hypothetical clinical scenario of a woman attending her first antenatal visit with a practising midwife was video-recorded to extrapolate the time taken to ask about and offer assistance to manage clinical, screening and lifestyle risk factors.

FINDINGS

Most women (96%) perceived they should be asked about each of the risk factors at least once (i.e. at first visit). Total time taken to ask about all risk factors was 52min. More time was spent discussing clinical (11min) than lifestyle factors (4min). Adjusting for the estimated prevalence of each risk factor, the time taken to offer assistance was 8min per woman. Average time required for detecting and offering assistance to manage risk factors is 60min per average risk woman.

CONCLUSION

Women are willing to be asked about risk factors; however this process is time-consuming. Strategies to streamline visits and prioritise recommendations so time-efficient yet comprehensive care can be delivered are needed, particularly when factors require monitoring over time and for those who may be 'at-risk' for multiple factors.

Concurrent Trajectories of Female Drinking and Smoking Behaviors Throughout Transitions to Pregnancy and Early Parenthood

The purpose of this longitudinal study was to investigate whether there are distinct etiological processes explaining dual usage of alcohol and conventional cigarettes by mothers from preconception through the early parenting years. Data on 8800 biological mothers were drawn from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort (ECLS-B), representative of US births in 2001. A general growth mixture model (GGMM) was used to empirically identify developmental trajectories of maternal smoking and drinking over the 5-6-year study period. Six classes defined by alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking were identified. These included a nonsmoking, low probability of drinking class (41%), and two drinking classes displaying no smoking with either moderate (26%) or escalating high (8%) probability drinking. Additionally, two predominantly smoking classes were identified, one displaying temporary reduction in smoking during pregnancy and low probability of drinking (11%) and one following a trajectory of persistent heavy smoking with a declining probability of drinking (9%). The sixth class was described by temporary reduction in smoking during pregnancy with high probability of drinking (6%). Covariates differentially predicted class membership, e.g., having a high school degree but not further education predicted concurrent drinking and smoking, and breastfeeding for more than 6 months is protective against concurrent use. Prior to conception, during prenatal care, and in post-natal clinical visits, whether for personal or pediatric care, screening women of reproductive age via characteristics that predict heterogeneity in smoking and drinking trajectories may help guide prevention and treatment options.

Consequences and Possible Predictors of Health-damaging Behaviors and Mental Health Problems in Pregnancy - A Review

In recent decades, the understanding of the short and longer term effects of health-damaging behaviors and mental health problems in pregnant women and the underlying mechanisms of these behaviors and illnesses has significantly increased. In contrast, little is known about the factors affecting individual pregnant women which contribute to health-damaging behaviors and mental illness. The aim of this paper was therefore to summarize the current state of research into the consequences of nicotine and alcohol consumption, malnutrition, excessive weight gain or obesity, and impaired mental health (depression and anxiety) during pregnancy. In addition, the characteristics of pregnant women which increase their risk of developing such behaviors or mental disorders are described. A better knowledge of these risks should make it easier for clinicians to identify cases at risk early on and put measures of support in place. A review of the literature has shown that certain characteristics of pregnant women (e.g. her relationship with her partner, a previous history of mental illness prior to pregnancy) are associated with various health-damaging behaviors as well as with impaired mental health. Affected women often show an accumulated psychosocial stress which was already present prior to the pregnancy and which may persist even after the birth of the child.

Neurodevelopmental disorder associated with prenatal exposure to alcohol (ND-PAE): A proposed diagnostic method of capturing the neurocognitive phenotype of FASD

Neurobehavioral Disorder associated with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (ND-PAE) was proposed as a diagnostic formulation intended to capture the range of mental health problems occurring in alcohol-affected individuals with a history of prenatal alcohol exposure. The proposed criteria for the disorder are reviewed as well as various factors considered in the development of the disorder and its associated criteria. The taxonomic research related to the disorder is reviewed with preliminary analyses indicating that clinicians are readily able to agree when applying the diagnostic criteria but that the adaptive functioning criteria may need to be modified to expand its coverage of alcohol-affected individuals and to aid in discriminating these individuals from others not alcohol-affected. Finally, the challenges with translating the diagnosis into European medical and mental healthcare systems are discussed and recommendations for facilitating implementation are made.