Reducing the risk of alcohol-exposed pregnancies: A study of a motivational intervention in community settings

TitleReducing the risk of alcohol-exposed pregnancies: A study of a motivational intervention in community settings
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2003
AuthorsIngersoll, K, Floyd, L, Sobell, M, Velasquez, MM
JournalPediatrics
Volume111
Pagination1131-1135
Date PublishedMay
Publication Languageeng
ISBN Number1098-4275 (Electronic)0031-4005 (Linking)
Accession Number12728125
Keywords*Contraception Behavior, Adolescent, Adult, Alcohol Drinking, Alcohol-Related Disorders/prevention & control, Alcoholic Intoxication/*prevention & control, Alcoholism/*therapy, Counseling/*methods, Female, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/*prevention & control, Humans, Motivation, Pilot Projects, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications/*prevention & control, Risk
Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To test the feasibility and impact of a motivational intervention in reducing drinking and/or increasing effective contraception in women who are at risk for an alcohol-exposed pregnancy. METHODS: A multisite single-arm pilot study was conducted in 6 community settings in 3 large cities. A total of 2384 women were screened for eligibility; 230 were eligible on the basis of their alcohol use and lack of contraception. Of the eligible women, 190 consented and were enrolled, and 143 (75.3%) completed the 6-month follow-up. The intervention consisted of 4 manual-guided motivational counseling sessions delivered by mental health clinicians and 1 contraceptive counseling session delivered by a family planning clinician. Outcome measures include intervention completion rates, alcohol use (frequency, quantity, and bingeing), contraceptive use and effectiveness, and risk for alcohol-exposed pregnancy. RESULTS: Among women who completed the 6-month follow-up, 68.5% were no longer at risk of having an alcohol-exposed pregnancy; 12.6% of women who completed the program reduced drinking only; 23.1% used effective contraception only; and 32.9% reported both. Results were consistent across the 6 diverse high-risk settings. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that providing 4 sessions of motivational interviewing plus a contraception counseling session is feasible and strongly suggests that this intervention can decrease the risk of alcohol-exposed pregnancy in women in high-risk settings. Additional investigation in a randomized controlled trial is warranted.

URLhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Citation&list_uids=12728125
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