WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

Ibebuike J. E.*, Nwokike G. I. and Onu L. C.

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the knowledge of the effect of alcohol during pregnancy among women of reproductive age (18-45) in Owerri Ebiri Orlu L.G.A Imo State. A Cross-Sectional descriptive survey design was adopted for this study. Three research objectives were formulated and three corresponding research questions were raised to guide the study. The research Objective includes: Knowledge of the effect of alcohol during pregnancy, Factors influencing pregnant women into alcoholism and measures to prevent the effect alcohol has on pregnancy. The Cognitive dissonance theory was used as the theoretical framework to obtain information from respondents (women of reproductive age, 18-45). An 18- items self –developed questionnaire made up of four (4) sub-sections was used. A systematic sampling technique was used to select 200 women of reproductive age from the community. The analysis revealed that 64.66% of the respondents were aware of the effect of alcohol during pregnancy, while 35.34% have no idea of the effect of alcohol in pregnancy and 15.8% were of the believe that alcohol has no effect on the fetus. Also based on the findings, it was recommended that nurses and health workers should educate women of child bearing age about the effect of alcohol during pregnancy and can also apply the initiative and intervention method as strategy for prevention.

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