Efficacy of brief interventions in reducing alcohol consumption among pregnant women

Author(s)

Poliana Patrício Aliane

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Ribeirão Preto.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC)
• Defense date: 2012-12-13

Examining board members

Erikson Felipe Furtado; Sonia Regina Loureiro; Claudia Leite Moraes; Marcia Aparecida Ferreira de Oliveira; Jair Licio Ferreira Santos

• Advisor: Erikson Felipe Furtado

Abstract

Alcohol use during pregnancy causes serious health risks to the mother and baby. National studies indicate prevalence around 20% of risky drinking by pregnant women. In the U.S., researches on evaluation of brief interventions have shown a reduction in alcohol consumption among pregnants. A prospective, blind and randomized clinical trial was developed to evaluate the efficacy of a brief intervention (BI) protocol in reducing alcohol use among pregnant women. Participants were randomized by opaque and sealed envelopes in two groups (IB and brochure), with two periods of data collection (T1 and T2). We recruited 86 risky drinking and pregnant women in health care services using T-ACE (score more than two points). Women were older than 18 years and had up to 16 weeks of gestation. All completed a questionnaire including evaluation of standard alcohol and received IB (IB group) or information leaflet about the risks of alcohol use during pregnancy (brochure group). We excluded women with (1) a previous diagnosis of alcohol or drugs dependence, (2) those scored above 20 points in AUDIT instrument, (3) those reported drugs use (except tobacco) in the past three months, and (4) those unable to understand and provide information to researchers. In T2 period (up 24 weeks gestation), 80 participants remained in the study (39 brochure group and 41 IB group). IB group presented a lower average doses consumed and a higher prevalence of abstinent. However, there were no statistically significant differences between the groups in relation to the pattern of alcohol consumption. Intra-group evaluation also did not detect differences in the pattern of alcohol consumption between T1 and T2 in both groups. Nevertheless, self-assessment of pregnant women about the change in drinking behavior indicated a statistically significant decrease of alcohol consumption in brochure group (Wilcoxon, Z= -2.74, p <0, 01, r = 0.31) and IB group (Wilcoxon, Z= -4.43, p <0.001, r = 0.49). (AU)