Knowledge, Attitude, Practice towards Alcohol Consumption during Pregnancy and Factors Affecting the Behavior in Pregnant Mothers Visiting SPHMMC ANC Clinic in the Months of March to May, 2018

Abstract

Abstract Background: Alcohol is the most commonly used teratogen substance which is used during pregnancy with detrimental effects on the fetus and the mother. Objectives: This research aims at addressing the knowledge, attitude towards and practice of alcohol consumption in pregnant mothers visiting SPHMMC ANC clinic along with associated factors that affect the behavior. Methods: The research was conducted in a hospital based cross-sectional study design. The source population were all patients visiting SPHMMC making the study population all pregnant mothers visiting ANC clinic, from April to June 2018. A simple random sampling technique was used and all data collection, entry, analysis and presentation was handled by the researcher. Results: A total of 309 pregnant mothers were the respondents of the study with mean age of 27.3 with standard deviation of ± 4.2. Ninety seven percent of the respondents were married and 22 of the mothers never attended school. From the respondents 87.7% and 69.6% found to have good attitude and knowledgeable about the effects and practice of alcohol consumption during pregnancy respectively. Around 12.3% of pregnant mothers claimed to drink alcohol during their current pregnancy. Gravidity, gestational age, attitude and previous alcohol consumption habit had a significant association with behavior of pregnant mothers toward alcohol consumption. Conclusion and recommendation: Level of alcohol consumption habit during pregnancy is significant in pregnant mothers visiting SPHMMC ANC follow-up clinic. Measures should be taken to increase knowledge, favorable attitude and good practice towards alcohol consumption habit during pregnancy.