Padrão de consumo de álcool em gestantes atendidas em um hospital público universitário

Abstract

Introduction: The consumption of alcohol is a worldwide important public health issue, and during pregnancy, such use is even more important, since it can compromise maternal and fetal health. Objective: To verify the pattern of alcohol consumption, before and after diagnosing pregnancy, among postpartum women admitted at University Hospital, Federal University of Uberlandia. Method: We consecutively evaluated 493 puerperal women, in the period comprising June to September, 2009. To diagnose use/abuse of alcohol before pregnancy, AUDIT and CAGE questionnaires were used, and during pregnancy, T-ACE was used in addition. Another questionnaire was applied in order to collect socio-demographic data. For the statistical analysis we used either the Fisher exact test or the chisquare test. P <0.05 values were considered as significant. Results: For the period before the diagnosis of pregnancy, the CAGE was positive for 12.3% of the women and the AUDIT identified abstinence in 32.9% of them, low-risk usage in 47.3%, risky consumption in 14.8%, and alcohol abuse or probable dependence at 5.0% of the women. During pregnancy, CAGE and T-ACE were positive for 13.1% and 17% of pregnant women, respectively; the AUDIT identified abstinence in 76.9%, low-risk usage in 14.8%, risky consumption in 5.5 % and alcohol abuse or probable dependence at 2.8% of the patients. Among women who were alcohol users, two thirds have stopped drinking after the diagnosis of pregnancy, regardless of the number of prenatal appointments; and less than 50% of them were advised not to drink. Pregnant women who either used or abused of alcohol attended fewer prenatal appointments. During pregnancy, alcohol consumption was more common among mothers with fewer education and among those not living with a partner, and we observed no relationship between patterns of alcohol consumption bound to skin color, family income, number of previous miscarriages and having a religion or not. Conclusions: We found worrying alcohol consumption among the evaluated pregnant women, especially in the period before the diagnosis of pregnancy, which shows us they were using alcohol during a still undiagnosed pregnancy. Thus, counseling in regard of alcohol use should be made to all women of reproductive age. AUDIT was the instrument that most frequently diagnosed alcohol use during