Abstract:
Background: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is among the life-long disabilities that result from maternal alcohol exposure. The growing incidence of FAS globally has become a public health concern and the lack of awareness and knowledge about the condition was noted among the key drawbacks for the slow progress in its prevention.
Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study that used a quantitative approach was undertaken to examine pregnant women’s knowledge on fetal alcohol syndrome. Data were collected using structured, interviewer-administered questionnaires to explore pregnant women’s knowledge about FAS. Chi square test was performed to determine association between the dependent and the independent variables. Further binary and multiple logistic regression analyses was done to obtain crude and adjusted odds ratios.
Results: Findings from the study revealed that majority of the participants did not know about FAS. Besides, maternal alcohol consumption was found to be high among the participants yet most of them admitted that alcohol consumption during pregnancy could be harmful to the unborn child. Prenatal alcohol consumption was highly associated with Primiparity unlike Multiparity. Further, participants indicated that increasing appetite for food was a major reason for Maternal Alcohol Consumption and as a solution majority agreed that alcohol screening test be made an integral part of antenatal care services.
Conclusion: In spite of the low knowledge on FAS among the pregnant women, they still reckon that alcohol consumption during pregnancy can harm the unborn child. Efforts, therefore should be made to intensify education on FAS to all women of childbearing age.
