Alcohol consumption and associated factors among pregnant women at public health centers in Asella town, southeastern Ethiopia: a multicenter mixed-method cross-sectional study.

backgroundAlcohol consumption during pregnancy has demonstrated significant risks worldwide. It can cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and increase the risk for miscarriage and stillbirth. Alcohol consumption rates during pregnancy exhibit considerable variation worldwide, with sub-Saharan Africa seeing the highest incidence, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ethiopia, surpassing the continental average. This indicates a critical need for further research and interventions, especially in areas such as Asella town, Ethiopia, where alcohol raw material production is high and data are lacking. Thus, this study aims to assess the magnitude of alcohol consumption and associated factors among pregnant women receiving antenatal care at public health centers in Asella Town.

methodsWe conducted a facility-based cross-sectional mixed-method study between April 1 and April 30, 2024. Using a simple random sampling method, 353 participants out of 388 pre-calculated samples were selected from pregnant women attending antenatal care services of public health centers in Asella town, and the data were collected via semi-structured and structured questionnaires. Quantitative data were analyzed using Epidata version 3.1 and Stata version 14. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies and proportions, were conducted and presented in tables, figures, and diagrams. We conducted binary logistic regression analyses to identify factors associated with alcohol consumption during pregnancy, with adjusted odds ratios (AORs) calculated at a 95% confidence interval. Variables with p-values ≤ 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Qualitative data was collected through focus group discussions (FGDs) with selected pregnant women and key informant interviews (KIIs) with health care practitioners. A thematic analysis was conducted via NVivo 12, which combines inductive and deductive coding approaches.

resultsThe study included 353 pregnant women, with a response rate of 90.98%, and revealed 31.7% alcohol consumption among the respondents. Sociodemographic and economic factors, such as age over 30 years [AOR = 0.2, 95% CI (0.07, 0.4)], being divorced [AOR = 8.3, 95% CI (1.2, 56.2)], and income below 1000 ETB/month [AOR = 11.6, 95% CI (1.7, 81.5)], as well as behavioral factors, such as local alcohol brewing [AOR = 5.8, 95% CI (1.9, 17.8)], unplanned pregnancy [AOR = 5.7, 95% CI (2.4, 13.4)], and having a positive attitude toward alcohol consumption [AOR = 0.4, 95% CI (0.02, 0.9)] were significantly associated with maternal alcohol consumption. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: This study revealed a high prevalence of alcohol use during pregnancy in Asella town. Factors such as age, marital status, income, local alcohol brewing, pregnancy planning, and attitudes toward drinking require a multi-level approach including culturally appropriate health education, involving community and religious leaders, and incorporating alcohol screening and counseling services into routine maternal health care.