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Characteristics of women who binge drink before and after they become aware of their pregnancy

  • Perinatal Epidemiology
  • Published:
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Abstract

Background Consumption of high doses of alcohol on a single occasion (binge drinking) may harm the developing foetus and pregnant women are advised to avoid binge drinking while pregnant. We present characteristics of Danish women who binge drank in the pre-and post recognised part of their pregnancy. Methods During the years 1996–2002 approximately 100,000 pregnant women were enrolled into the Danish National Birth Cohort. Women with information on binge drinking, time of recognition of pregnancy, age, reproductive history, marital status, smoking, occupational status, pre-pregnancy BMI, alcohol consumption before pregnancy, and mental disorders (n = 85,334) were included in the analyses. Results Approximately one quarter of the women reported binge drinking at least once during pregnancy; most of these in the pre-recognised part of pregnancy. Weekly alcohol consumption before pregnancy, single status and smoking were predictors for binge drinking in both the unrecognised and recognised part of pregnancy. Moreover, binge drinking in the pre-recognised part of pregnancy was more common among women aged 25–29 years, who were nulliparous, well educated in good jobs or skilled workers. Binge drinking after recognition of pregnancy was more common among women who were unintended pregnant, multiparous unskilled workers, had been unemployed for more than one year, or had mental/neurotic disorder. Conclusions In order to prevent binge drinking during pregnancy, health care providers should target their efforts towards pregnant women as well as pregnancy-planners. It is important to be aware that women who binge drink before versus after the pregnancy is recognised have different social characteristics.

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Acknowledgements

The Danish National Research Foundation has established the Danish Epidemiology Science Centre that initiated and created the DNBC. The cohort is furthermore a result of a major grant from this foundation. Additional support for the DNBC is obtained from the Pharmacy Foundation, the Egmont Foundation, the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, and the Augustinus Foundation. Sources of support: Grants from the Danish Ministry of Health and the Health Insurance Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Alcohol Research, National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, 2. Floor, DK-1399, Copenhagen K, Denmark

    Katrine Strandberg-Larsen & Morten Grønbæk

  2. National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, 2. Floor, DK-1399, Copenhagen K, Denmark

    Naja Rod Nielsen

  3. Division of Epidemiology, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9B, DK-5000, Odense C, Denmark

    Anne-Marie Nybo Andersen

  4. Division of Epidemiology, UCLA School of Public Health, 71-254 CHS, Box 951772, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1772, USA

    Jørn Olsen

Authors
  1. Katrine Strandberg-Larsen
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  2. Naja Rod Nielsen
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  3. Anne-Marie Nybo Andersen
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  4. Jørn Olsen
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  5. Morten Grønbæk
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Katrine Strandberg-Larsen.

Keypoints

Keypoints

  • Binge drinking is common in the pre-recognised part of pregnancy.

  • Women who binge drink before versus after pregnancy recognition have different social characteristics.

  • Binge drink in the pre-recognised part of pregnancy is more common among first-time mothers, aged 25–29 years, who are educated or skilled workers.

  • Binge drinking subsequent to pregnancy recognition is more common among women who are unintended pregnant, multiparous, have a mental disorder or neurosis, in unskilled works or have been unemployed for more than one year.

  • Advisories on binge drinking in pregnancy should in addition to pregnant women be targeted pregnancy-planners.

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Strandberg-Larsen, K., Rod Nielsen, N., Nybo Andersen, AM. et al. Characteristics of women who binge drink before and after they become aware of their pregnancy. Eur J Epidemiol 23, 565–572 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-008-9265-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-008-9265-z

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