Alcohol consumption is a major global risk factor for poor health, contributing to a wide range of physical, mental, and social problems. Among vulnerable populations, alcohol use during pregnancy is a particularly critical concern due to its harmful effects on both maternal and fetal health. This issue is especially pressing in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where alcohol consumption is increasing and healthcare systems often lack the capacity to address related consequences. In Africa, characterized by diverse cultural norms and socioeconomic disparities, the burden of alcohol use during pregnancy remains inadequately understood. While several studies have explored this issue across various African settings, their findings have been inconsistent. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of alcohol consumption during pregnancy and identify associated factors among pregnant women in Africa. This study followed the PRISMA 2020 guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024557559). A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library. Eligible cross-sectional studies reporting alcohol consumption among pregnant women in Africa were included. The methodological quality of each study was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklist. Only studies scoring five or higher were included. Data extraction was done using a structured Excel sheet. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plots and Egger's test. A total of 21 studies from various African countries involving 11,726 pregnant women were included. The pooled prevalence of alcohol consumption during pregnancy was 28.33% (95% CI: 22.68-33.99%). Subgroup analysis showed prevalence estimates of 34.09% in Ghana, 29.19% in Ethiopia, and 19.80% in Uganda. Significant associated factors included rural residence, lack of formal education, poor social support, family history of mental illness, history of abortion, lack of awareness, pre-pregnancy alcohol use, partner alcohol use, and unplanned pregnancy. This systematic review and meta-analysis found that the pooled prevalence of alcohol consumption among pregnant women was high. This study provides valuable insights that can inform future public health initiatives and research on this critical topic.
Andualem et al. (Wed,) studied this question.
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