Spousal disputes, verbal abuse, and alcohol consumption during pregnancy among women: data from the Elfe national representative cohort
Introduction: Domestic violence, even when verbal, may be linked to alcohol consumption during pregnancy. The objective of this analysis is to examine the association between a woman’s relationship status, arguments, and verbal domestic violence, and maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy, using data from the Elfe cohort (French Longitudinal Study from Childhood). Methods: The analyses are based on data from the Elfe cohort, established throughout France in 2011. Marital status, arguments, and verbal abuse during pregnancy, as well as alcohol consumption (never, occasional, or regular) were reported by the mother at the time of the child’s birth (n=18,050). Verbal abuse by the partner was classified into three categories: never, presence of verbal abuse, and no relationship. Using weighted data, we examined the associations between couple conflict and alcohol consumption during pregnancy using a multivariate multinomial logistic model, incorporating a random effect corresponding to the maternity ward where the Elfe child was born. Results: The majority of women (79.6%) reported not drinking alcohol during pregnancy, 16.8% reported drinking an average of less than one alcoholic drink per month, and 3.7% drank an average of more than one drink per month. In our multivariate logistic regression model, compared to women who did not report verbal abuse from their partner during pregnancy, those who did report it had higher alcohol consumption (adjusted OR=1.22 [95% CI: 1.14–1.30] for occasional alcohol consumption, and adjusted OR=1.47 [95% CI: 1.36–1.59] for regular alcohol consumption). No increased risk of alcohol consumption during pregnancy was observed among women who were not in a relationship compared to women who did not report verbal abuse. Discussion: Verbal abuse within the couple should be systematically assessed during prenatal care and taken into account in interventions targeting women’s risky behaviors during pregnancy.
Author(s): El-Khoury Fabienne, Charles Marie-Aline, Melchior Maria
Publishing year: 2019
Pages: 187-193
Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin, 2019, n° 10-11, p. 187-193
In relation to
Our latest news
news
2026 “Sexual Behavior” Survey (ERAS) for men who have sex with men
news
Hervé Maisonneuve has been appointed scientific integrity officer for a...
news