Effect of a communication intervention on alcohol use during pregnancy in post conflict Northern Uganda: a quasi experimental study

• Published in: Substance abuse treatment, prevention and policy Vol. 17; no. 1; p. 80
• Main Authors: Agiresaasi, Apophia, Nassanga, Goretti, Maina, Gakenia Wamuyu, Kiguli, Juliet, Nabiwemba, Elizabeth, Kiwanuka, Noah, Mukose, Aggrey, Tumwesigye, Nazarius Mbona
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 12.12.2022; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Abstinence; Age groups; Alcohol Abstinence; Alcohol Drinking - prevention & control; Alcohol use; Antenatal care; Care and treatment; Communication; Community health aides; Community health care; Complications and side effects; Diagnosis; Drinking in pregnancy; Effect of alcohol on; Ethanol; Female; Fetal alcohol syndrome; Fetus; Households; Humans; Intervention; Meetings; Post conflict; Pregnancy; Quasi-experimental methods; Risk Factors; Services; Uganda; Womens health; Workers; Uganda; Africa; Pregnancy; Uganda; Post conflict; Antenatal care; Alcohol use; Communication
• ISSN: 1747-597X; 1747-597X
• DOI: 10.1186/s13011-022-00505-y

Alcohol use during pregnancy is a preventable risk factor for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum disorders. Psycho-social and educational interventions have been reported to enable women reduce alcohol intake levels during pregnancy and help improve some health outcomes of unhealthy alcohol use. We set out to assess the effect of a communication intervention on alcohol use during pregnancy in post conflict northern Uganda. The study employed a quasi - experimental design to assess the effect of a community health worker led communication strategy on pregnant women's knowledge, attitudes and various patterns of alcohol use using Difference in Difference(DiD). 420 respondents were recruited at baseline as at endline. The communication messages were significantly associated with reduced odds of binge drinking (P = 0.018; OR = 0.09; CI = 0.012-0.66). Also those who received the intervention were less likely to drink frequently (P = 0.80; OR = 0.75; 95%CI = 0.074-7.5) or be harmful alcohol users(P = 0.948). The intervention also positively influenced having fair (β =0.49;P = 0.217;RRR =1.63)or adequate knowledge(β = 0.89;P = 0.25;RRR = 2.44) and having positive(β = 0.37;RRR =1.44;P = 0.46) or fair attitude(β = 0.19;RRR = 1.21; P = 0.693) although not to a significant level. The communication intervention affected some patterns of alcohol use among pregnant women and not others. Our results contribute to existing evidence that communication interventions are a promising approach in reduction of alcohol exposed pregnancies. Interventions aimed at promoting alcohol abstinence during pregnancy should be implemented alongside other strategies that address factors that influence pregnant women to drink to achieve maximum results.