Predictors of risk of alcohol-exposed pregnancies among women in an urban and a rural area of South Africa

dc.contributor.authorMorojele, Neo K.
dc.contributor.authorLondon, Leslie
dc.contributor.authorOlorunju, Steve A.S.
dc.contributor.authorMatjila, Maila J.
dc.contributor.authorDavids, Adlai S.
dc.contributor.authorRendall-Mkosi, Kirstie Margaret
dc.date.accessioned2010-01-13T09:54:06Z
dc.date.available2010-01-13T09:54:06Z
dc.date.issued2010-02
dc.description.abstractThe study sought to determine the prevalence and predictors of being at risk of an alcohol-exposed pregnancy (AEP) among women of child-bearing age in an urban and rural location in South Africa. We conducted a cross-sectional household survey of 1018 women aged 18–44 years in one urban (n ¼ 606) and one rural (n ¼ 412) site. The women were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. We defined the primary dependent variable, being at risk of having an AEP, as current alcohol use, not being pregnant, being fertile, and no effective use of contraceptives. The independent variables included demographic, substance use, health perceptions, psycho-social, and partner characteristics. The rural women (21.84%) were more likely than their urban counterparts (11.22%) to be at risk of an AEP. In multiple logistic regression analyses, significant predictors of being in the ‘‘at risk’’ group for the urban women were (a) being ‘white’ as opposed to ‘black/African’, and being ‘coloured’ as opposed to ‘black/African’; and (b) current smoking. For the rural women, significant risk factors were (a) current smoking and (b) early onset of alcohol use. The significant protective factors were (a) education; (b) knowledge about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome; (c) parity. Use of stricter alcohol use criteria (i.e., three or more drinks and five or more drinks per sitting) in the definition of risk of an AEP yielded slightly different patterns of significant predictors. The results revealed high levels of risk of an alcohol-exposed pregnancy, especially amongst the rural women, and a need for location-specific prevention programmes. The high burden of AEP in South Africa calls for the establishment of national AEP prevention strategies and programmes as a matter of urgency.en
dc.identifier.citationMorojele, N.K., et al., Predictors of risk of alcohol-exposed pregnancies among women in an urban and a rural area of South Africa, Social Science & Medicine, vol. 70, no. 4, pp. 534-542, doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.10.040en
dc.identifier.issn0277-9536
dc.identifier.other10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.10.040
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/12521
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherElsevieren
dc.rightsElsevieren
dc.subjectAlcohol-exposed pregnancyen
dc.subjectAlcohol consumptionen
dc.subject.lcshFetal alcohol syndrome -- South Africaen
dc.subject.lcshAlcoholism in pregnancy -- South Africaen
dc.subject.lcshDrinking of alcoholic beverages -- South Africaen
dc.subject.lcshPregnant women -- South Africa -- Alcohol useen
dc.subject.lcshContraception -- South Africaen
dc.titlePredictors of risk of alcohol-exposed pregnancies among women in an urban and a rural area of South Africaen
dc.typePostprint Articleen

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