High levels of alcohol consumption in pregnant women from a touristic area of Southern Spain

Abstract

The prevalence of alcohol intake in women who become pregnant is similar to that found in the general population, especially in cases of unplanned pregnancies. Consequently, foetal exposure is high during the period of maximum vulnerability. The present study was carried out to determine the prenatal level of exposure to alcohol in Málaga, a Mediterranean region whose economy is based on the touristic sector (Costa del Sol). A cross-sectional, observational design was used to investigate the consumption of alcohol during pregnancy, based on a self-reporting questionnaire. A total of 451 women in the first, second or third trimesters of pregnancy were recruited. Consumption prevalences in each trimester were 40.7%, 25.5% and 17.1%. A higher educational level was associated with greater exposure to alcohol (risk ratio, 1.87 [1.30–2.69]). These results should alert the providers of obstetric care in touristic areas to the need for the adoption of adequate preventive measures.

Keywords::

• Alcohol consumption
• alcohol in pregnancy
• prevalence
• substance abuse

Acknowledgement

We want to thank the nursing staff of M laga University Hospital for their contribution in the recruitment of the sample of study.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no declarations of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.