Pre-Natal Alcohol Use Disorder: Prevalence and Pregnancy Outcomes in Plateau State North Central Nigeria

Background: Alcohol use and alcohol use disorder among pregnant women have been recognized as a major public health problem globally and appear to be on the increase in Africa, particularly in Nigeria. It is of importance because of its effect on the mother and the unborn child. This study was meant to determine the prevalence of prenatal alcohol use disorder and also assess pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women with prenatal alcohol use disorder.  Methodology: It was a facility-based, descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at Vom Christian Hospital and General Hospital, Barkin-ladi, among 263 pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select study participants and data collection tools were interviewer/self-administered questionnaires and alcohol use disorder identification test questionnaires. Data was analyzed using statistical package for social sciences software version 23 and p values < 0.05 was considered significant statistically. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine predictors of alcohol use disorder.  Results: The prevalence of alcohol use disorder in pregnancy was 14%, with 22.8% of those with alcohol use disorder being dependent. The age band, 35+ (75.5%) was associated more with alcohol use disorder. Women whose spouses used alcohol were 3 times more likely to have alcohol use disorder (OR = 3.129; 95% C.I. = 0.695-14.0.85). In respect of pregnancy outcome, only history of prematurity 5 (100.0%) was significantly associated with alcohol use disorder (p = 0.046). Low level of education was predictive of alcohol use disorder.  Conclusion: This study found a high prevalence of alcohol use disorder among the study population. There was a significant association between prenatal alcohol use disorder and prematurity. Low level of education was predictive of alcohol use disorder. Recommendations: Government and development partners should build the capacity of health care workers on the implications of prenatal alcohol use. Health talks during ante-natal care should, as a matter of policy, prioritize the implications of alcohol use in pregnancy. The government should establish a national policy on prenatal alcohol use with emphasis on community mobilization and health promotion.