Pregnant Women and Alcohol Use in the Bosomtwe District of the Ashanti Region-Ghana
Abstract
Drinking alcohol in pregnancy is a serious public health concern worldwide. This study sought to determine the magnitude and socio-demograhic characteristics of pregnant women attending Antenatal clinic in the Bosomtwe district, Ghana who drank alcohol and to assess their general knowledge about the effects of alcohol in pregnancy. The study, a descriptive cross-sectional, was conducted in all the ten health facilities providing reproductive health care with a sample size of 397 pregnant women using structured questionnaires. The findings of the study were that 20.4% of pregnant women drank alcohol. The 25-29 year group 26 (34.0%), married 50 (61.7%) and Junior High School Educated 37 (45.7%) as well as Christians 69 (85.0%) and traders 28 (34.6%) drank most. Majority 77
(33.5%) heard about the detrimental effects of alcohol at Antenatal Clinics (ANC). The District Health Management Team (DHMT) should strengthen health education on alcohol at ANC and through the radio as well as the DHMT collaborating with the Ghana Education Service to embark on education of school pupils and students on the harmful effects of alcohol in pregnancy (Afr J Reprod Health 2012; 16[1]:55-60).
RésuméFemmes enceintes et l’usage de l’alcool dans le Disrict d’Ashanti Region, Ghana : La consommation de l’alcool pendant la grossesse est un gros problème de santé publique partout dans le monde. Cette étude a cherché à déterminer l’ampleur et les caractéristiques sociodémographiques des femmes enceintes qui fréquentent la clinique prénatale qui consomment l’alcool et à évaluer leur connaissance générale sur l’effet de l’alcool dans la grossesse. L’étude, qui est descriptive et transversale, a été menée auprès de dix établissements de santé qui assurent des services de santé de la reproduction à l’aide d’un échantillon de 397 femmes enceintes à travers des questionnaires structurés. Les résultats de l’étude révélaient que 24% des femmes enceintes buvaient de l’alcool. Le groupe des femmes qui ont 25 – 29 ans, 26 (34,0%) mariées, 50(61, 7%) et celles qui sont scolarisées jusqu'au niveau du collège 37 (45,7%) aussi bien que les chrétiennes 69(85,0) et les marchandes 28 (34,6%) buvaient le plus. La majorité ,77 (33,5%) a appris les effets nuisibles de l’alcool aux cliniques anténatales (CAN). Le District Health Management Team (DHMT) doit renforcer l’éducation sanitaire sur l’alcool dans les CAN et à travers la radio et le DHMT doit collaborer avec le Ghana Education Service pour commencer la sensibilisation des élèves et des étudiants concernant les effets nuisibles de l’alcool pendant la grossesse (Afr J Reprod Health 2012; 16[1]:55-60).
Keywords: Reproductive years, Alcohol consumption, Foetal Alcohol Syndrome, Ghana, Women, Pregnancy
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