ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AND KNOWLEDGE OF ITS EFFECTS ON MOTHER AND CHILD AMONG WOMEN OF CHILDBEARING AGE IN THE NANDOM DISTRICT

Abstract

Alcohol consumption is prevalent among young women in Ghana. Many of these women are becoming heavy drinkers. Alcohol has negative effects on pregnancy and health. It is on this backdrop that the researcher carried out this survey to determine the prevalence, and the factors that affect the consumption of alcohol among women of childbearing age in Nandom district of the Upper West region of Ghana. The study, a descriptive cross-sectional, was conducted in seven health facilities providing reproductive health services in the district between the months of August and September 2014. The sample size was 200 women within their reproductive age. The main findings of the study were that 84.3% of respondents affirmed drinking alcohol and younger women of age group 21-30 years were the majority (50.5%) among these drinkers, while married women made of 72.2%. Many women (15.1%) consumed above four bottles of standard measure of various alcoholic beverages per drinking session per day, while 21.7% drank three bottles per day per drinking session. The results also showed that only 32.8% of the women had adequate knowledge of the effects of alcohol on the fetus while majority (67.2%) did not have any idea about alcohol effects on pregnancy. However, with respect to knowledge about the effect on both fetus and mother, 33.3% of the respondents had adequate knowledge as against 66.7% who did not know that alcohol have effects on both mother and baby in pregnancy. Many of the respondents (31.8%) received the information about the negative effects of alcohol through health workers during ANC attendance. The chi-square test on the socio-demographic characteristics and intention to stop alcohol showed that all p values were less 0.05, and education and residence had strong association on the intention to stop drinking. It is recommended that District Health Management Team strengthen health education through social gatherings and through local FM stations in the district. Ghana Health Service to embark on vigorous school health education to sensitize the pupils and student on the harmful effects of alcohol to health.