Exploring the knowledge of women of reproductive age about the harmful effects of alcohol consumption

Relevance. In Russia, according to the World Health Organization, one of the highest rates of alcohol consumption among women of reproductive age is observed, highlighting the need for intensifying preventive measures through active and passive information dissemination about the negative consequences of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, particularly concerning fetal alcohol syndrome.

The Purpose: to investigate the awareness of women of reproductive age about the harmful effects of alcohol consumption.

Methodology. The study involved 100 women aged from17 to 46 years (M = 30.7; SD = 0.6). The following scales were used: 1) the questionnaire of awareness of the alcohol consumption during pregnancy consequences, sources of information about a healthy lifestyle and activities that should be followed for a child’s health; 2) RUS-AUDIT-S, a brief test for detecting alcohol-related disorders. Data analysis included frequency distribution analysis and contingency table analysis using the chi-square test.

Results and Discussion. The results showed that 95 % of women were aware that drinking alcohol during pregnancy could harm the unborn child, but only 25 % were aware of fetal alcohol syndrome. These results indicate a lack of awareness among women of the potential effects of prenatal exposure to ethanol on the fetus. According to the results of the RUS-AUDIT-S among pregnant women who participated in the study, four out of five women drank alcoholic beverages during the last 12 months, and one out of five drank alcohol in dangerous quantities during this period. Among 52 women planning a pregnancy in the next 12 months, eight were identified as drinking in hazardous amounts, and two were at risk of possible alcohol dependence. The importance of talking to a health care professional as an important source of health information for women was found to be high, enabling effective prevention of fetal alcohol syndrome in healthcare organisations providing care to the female population in the obstetrics and gynaecology specialty.

Conclusion. The findings of the study point to the remaining need to improve interventions aimed at preventing alcohol consumption among the general population, including pregnant women and women planning to become pregnant. Active dissemination of information about the harmful consequences of alcohol consumption and the developmental problems faced by children exposed to intrauterine ethanol exposure, implemented in the practical activities of healthcare professionals, serves as a significant source of health knowledge for women seeking medical assistance.

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