Abstract:
Background: Prenatal use of substances like alcohol, tobacco and khat can bring miscarriage,
stillbirth, prematurity, neurodevelopmental problems like fetal alcohol spectrum disorders,
sudden infant death syndrome and others.There are limited studies on the magnitude of substance
use during pregnancy in Eastern Eastern Ethiopia (Jijiga, Harar and Dire Dawa town). So this
study tried to fill this gap by assessing the magnitude of substance use and associated factors
among pregnant women in the study area.
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the magnitude of substance use and its associated
factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care in public hospitals of Eastern Ethiopia
from March 5 to 25, 2019.
Method: An institution based cross-sectional study was employed on 526 pregnant women
attended ANC in selected public hospitals of Eastern Ethiopia (Jigjiga, Dire Dawa and Harar
town). Data were collected from the study participants that were selected using systematic
sampling method from each selected sites.The data were collected through interviewer
administered structured questionnaire. Logistic regression was used for analysis. The adjusted
odds ratio with 95% confidence interval and 5% level of significance was used to determine the
degree of association between covariates and outcome variable.
Results: In this study, the magnitude of pregnant women substance use was 26.5%.Among those
74.1% chewed khat, 35.6% drunk alcohol, 8.9% used tobacco products and 20.7% were used two
types of substances.Prepregnancy substance use, partner substance use, family substance use and
the amount of monthly household income were found to be statistically significant and positively
associated with substance use during pregnancy.
Conclusion: The magnitude of substance use in the study area was low in relation to local
studies. Pre-pregnancy substance use, partner substance use, monthly house hold income income
and family substance use were found to be positively associated with substance use during
pregnancy. Health education which is inclusive of child bearing age women with their partner
and family may be helpful to decrease substance use among pregnant women.
