Factors related to alcohol consumption behavior among teenage pregnancy in Bangkok Metropolitan

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to examine factors related to alcohol drinking behavior among unplanned pregnant adolescents. This case – control study was conducted in hospitals located at Bangkok Metropolitan. One hundred pregnant women who visited the hospital antenatal clinics and 304 adolescents who lived in the vicinity of hospital, and their age of 24 years old or less were recruited. The multi-stage sampling was adopted. Data were collected by self- administered questionnaire and analyzed by using chi-square, Fisher’s exact test, and Binary Logistic Regression.

            Findings showed that 50.0% of pregnant adolescents started drinking at the age of younger than 15 years old and most of them were influenced by friends (91.7%). The majority of them had headache and vomiting symptoms (59.3 %). Factors related to alcohol drinking behavior among pregnant adolescents included being persuaded by close friends (p=0.040) and alcohol drinking behavior related to unplanned pregnant adolescences at a 0.05 level of statistical significance. Drinking adolescents had a chance to have unplanned pregnancy 1.6 times (95 % CI: 1.012-2.535) when compared to those who had never been drinking. Recommendations are programmes focused on life skill education among adolescents for sexual risk behavior prevention. Additionally, unplanned pregnancy prevention programme among adolescents should be established.