Alcohol Consumption Assessed by a Biomarker and Self-Reported Drinking in a Sample of Pregnant Women in the South of Europe: A Comparative Study
(1) Background: Alcohol consumption during pregnancy is a major concern, particularly in Europe and North America. Its prevalence has so far been under-researched. In most studies, the determination of this consumption may be underestimated, as it is based on the information obtained from questionna...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Toxics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/11/11/930 |
| _version_ | 1827638682233864192 |
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| author | Isabel Corrales-Gutierrez Diego Gomez-Baya Fatima Leon-Larios Rocío Medero-Canela Emilia Marchei Ramon Mendoza-Berjano Óscar García-Algar |
| author_facet | Isabel Corrales-Gutierrez Diego Gomez-Baya Fatima Leon-Larios Rocío Medero-Canela Emilia Marchei Ramon Mendoza-Berjano Óscar García-Algar |
| author_sort | Isabel Corrales-Gutierrez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | (1) Background: Alcohol consumption during pregnancy is a major concern, particularly in Europe and North America. Its prevalence has so far been under-researched. In most studies, the determination of this consumption may be underestimated, as it is based on the information obtained from questionnaires rather than from biomarkers, which will provide a much more reliable approach. The main objective of this study was to compare the prevalence of consumption during pregnancy as assessed by a questionnaire and a hair biomarker. (2) Method: A cross-sectional study with a random sample of 425 pregnant women treated in public hospital consultations in Seville (Spain) and in the 20th week of their pregnancy, orally interviewed using an elaborated ad hoc questionnaire that evaluated variables of sociodemographic, obstetric, and alcohol consumption. Furthermore, the ethyl glucuronide metabolite (EtG) was tested on a hair sample in 252 pregnant women who agreed to facilitate it. Once the data obtained through the questionnaire and hair test were analyzed, the level of metabolites and self-reported alcohol consumption were compared. (3) Results: The prevalence of self-reported alcohol consumption (questionnaire) was 20.7%, and the real consumption (metabolite analysis) was 20.2%. In 16.8% of pregnant women who declared not consuming alcohol during their pregnancy, noticeable consumption was detected according to the metabolite test. No relevant level of variability in estimated alcohol consumption was detected in the biomarker with respect to the sociodemographic and obstetric variables studied. (4) Conclusions: The prevalence of alcohol consumption during pregnancy obtained through both questionnaires and metabolite analyses was similar and high. There is no association between consumption and sociodemographic factors in this sample. The determination of consumption through biomarkers allows for a more accurate approximation of the prevalence of consumption than estimated through questionnaires. Larger sample-sized studies are needed to determine consumption patterns and thus guide the adoption of more precise policies fostering abstinence from alcohol consumption since the preconception period. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:24:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3ec71b8c919448ab8b80fa2e424e9a61 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2305-6304 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:24:25Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxics |
| spelling | doaj.art-3ec71b8c919448ab8b80fa2e424e9a612023-11-24T15:09:25ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042023-11-01111193010.3390/toxics11110930Alcohol Consumption Assessed by a Biomarker and Self-Reported Drinking in a Sample of Pregnant Women in the South of Europe: A Comparative StudyIsabel Corrales-Gutierrez0Diego Gomez-Baya1Fatima Leon-Larios2Rocío Medero-Canela3Emilia Marchei4Ramon Mendoza-Berjano5Óscar García-Algar6Foetal Medicine Unit, University Hospital Virgen Macarena, 41009 Seville, SpainDepartment of Social, Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Huelva, 21007 Huelva, SpainNursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Podiatry, University of Seville, 41009 Seville, SpainMultiprofessional Teaching Unit for Family and Community Care in Huelva, Huelva Costa Condado Campiña Health District, 21001 Huelva, SpainInstituto Superiore di Sanitá, 00161 Roma, ItalyDepartment of Social, Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Huelva, 21007 Huelva, SpainNeonatology Unit, Hospital Clinic, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain(1) Background: Alcohol consumption during pregnancy is a major concern, particularly in Europe and North America. Its prevalence has so far been under-researched. In most studies, the determination of this consumption may be underestimated, as it is based on the information obtained from questionnaires rather than from biomarkers, which will provide a much more reliable approach. The main objective of this study was to compare the prevalence of consumption during pregnancy as assessed by a questionnaire and a hair biomarker. (2) Method: A cross-sectional study with a random sample of 425 pregnant women treated in public hospital consultations in Seville (Spain) and in the 20th week of their pregnancy, orally interviewed using an elaborated ad hoc questionnaire that evaluated variables of sociodemographic, obstetric, and alcohol consumption. Furthermore, the ethyl glucuronide metabolite (EtG) was tested on a hair sample in 252 pregnant women who agreed to facilitate it. Once the data obtained through the questionnaire and hair test were analyzed, the level of metabolites and self-reported alcohol consumption were compared. (3) Results: The prevalence of self-reported alcohol consumption (questionnaire) was 20.7%, and the real consumption (metabolite analysis) was 20.2%. In 16.8% of pregnant women who declared not consuming alcohol during their pregnancy, noticeable consumption was detected according to the metabolite test. No relevant level of variability in estimated alcohol consumption was detected in the biomarker with respect to the sociodemographic and obstetric variables studied. (4) Conclusions: The prevalence of alcohol consumption during pregnancy obtained through both questionnaires and metabolite analyses was similar and high. There is no association between consumption and sociodemographic factors in this sample. The determination of consumption through biomarkers allows for a more accurate approximation of the prevalence of consumption than estimated through questionnaires. Larger sample-sized studies are needed to determine consumption patterns and thus guide the adoption of more precise policies fostering abstinence from alcohol consumption since the preconception period.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/11/11/930fetal alcohol spectrum disorderspregnancyalcohol consumptionSpainbiomarker |
| spellingShingle | Isabel Corrales-Gutierrez Diego Gomez-Baya Fatima Leon-Larios Rocío Medero-Canela Emilia Marchei Ramon Mendoza-Berjano Óscar García-Algar Alcohol Consumption Assessed by a Biomarker and Self-Reported Drinking in a Sample of Pregnant Women in the South of Europe: A Comparative Study Toxics fetal alcohol spectrum disorders pregnancy alcohol consumption Spain biomarker |
| title | Alcohol Consumption Assessed by a Biomarker and Self-Reported Drinking in a Sample of Pregnant Women in the South of Europe: A Comparative Study |
| title_full | Alcohol Consumption Assessed by a Biomarker and Self-Reported Drinking in a Sample of Pregnant Women in the South of Europe: A Comparative Study |
| title_fullStr | Alcohol Consumption Assessed by a Biomarker and Self-Reported Drinking in a Sample of Pregnant Women in the South of Europe: A Comparative Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Alcohol Consumption Assessed by a Biomarker and Self-Reported Drinking in a Sample of Pregnant Women in the South of Europe: A Comparative Study |
| title_short | Alcohol Consumption Assessed by a Biomarker and Self-Reported Drinking in a Sample of Pregnant Women in the South of Europe: A Comparative Study |
| title_sort | alcohol consumption assessed by a biomarker and self reported drinking in a sample of pregnant women in the south of europe a comparative study |
| topic | fetal alcohol spectrum disorders pregnancy alcohol consumption Spain biomarker |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/11/11/930 |
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