Assignment 1: LASA # 2: PowerPoint Presentation
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literature_review_paper.docx
DRUG ABUSE IN PREGNANT WOMEN 8
Drug Abuse in Pregnant Women
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Running head: DRUG ABUSE IN PREGNANT WOMEN 1
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Abstract
This study is about the determinants of alcohol preference and drug abuse among the pregnant women. The research question is which factors contribute to this behavior among the pregnant women? The study will review several kinds of literature that have attempted to explore these characteristics of pregnant women and the contributing factors. The pieces of literature contribute evidence to support the research question. The study also seeks to look into the prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. These disorders in the fetus are caused by the consumption of alcohol by expectant women.
Introduction
The use of alcohol and abuse of drugs has been a social problem that researchers have strived to explain for decades of research. Unfortunately, this social issue has not been fully solved, and the new wave is culminating within pregnant women. This research will strive to articulate the fundamental factors that contribute to this behavior among women.
To establish a relevant context on which the basis of the study will be developed, it is important to review several literature that have contextualized the subject of this research. Each of the literature that will be considered in this section offers contributive evidence and support to the primary ideology that is the focus of this study.
Of particular concern to this research is the prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) that is explored in great depth by many researchers. These literature documents highlight the development of a fight against prenatal exposure to alcohol as a consequence of various impacts that consumption of alcohol during pregnancy has on the fetus. The literature material used covered in this review are related to the research topic and with a particular focus on the advocating against the consumption of alcohol by pregnant women. As a result of various factors that affect pregnancy and maternal health, research work explores the significance of embracing a physiological approach to both pregnancy and birth.
With its focus placed on the United States, research statistical data from hospital labor units to establish various mechanisms through which pregnancy and childbirth can be improved. This document does not provide a concrete contribution to this research, save for its emphasis on the importance of quality health during and after pregnancy.
The Review of Literature
Alcohol Intake by pregnant women
This literature helps in the characterization of alcohol consumption among pregnant women by known social constructs. This will help a larger audience to understand the difference between abuse and misuse of alcohol, especially among pregnant women. The addictive nature of alcohol has become a tremendous problem even for pregnant women. This research, besides exploring the factors that lead to alcohol consumption among pregnant women
This literature review helps in the characterization of alcohol consumption among pregnant women by known social constructs. This will help a larger audience to understand the difference between abuse and misuse of alcohol, especially among pregnant women.
The study explores the various ways through which this behavior can be improved or minimized. Women and other people with such problems can be helped. Some women, previously addicted to alcohol will find themselves taking alcohol even during pregnancy. The review offers an advanced and integrative step-wise process through which pregnant mothers can be helped to avoid alcohol consumption. The concept provides a very fundamental concept about the basic concept addressed in this research.
One of the primary objectives of this research is the development of an integrative solution that will help pregnant mothers reduce alcohol consumption as well as the usage of other drugs that affect maternal health. Nurses also play a vital role in this process of treatment. Nurses help pregnant women to control their health during pregnancy. However, it must be understood that the responsibility of health management is a multi-dimensional activity that requires efforts from the pregnant woman and the health practitioners.
Effects of the Alcohol Abuse by Pregnant Women
Spontaneous abortion is the death of the fetus before the twenty week pregnancy period. The clinically substantial losses of the fetus within this period occur among the 20 percent of all pregnancies (Kline et al. 1989). The consumption of alcohol by the pregnant women has been identified as one of the high-risk causes of this condition. Studies revealed that heavy drinking among these women had a direct relation with the increase in the cases of spontaneous abortions (Sokol 1980).
The pregnant moms who took at least one drink per day had more cases of the death of the fetus especially during the second trimester as compared to those who did not. The other group that consumed three drinks in a day had three times potential for experiencing spontaneous abortion as compared to the women who never took alcohol at all (Harlap and Shiono 1980). Stillbirth is the passing away of the fetus that have grown past the 20-month mark. The prevalence of this case is seen in the 6.22 of 1000 of pregnancies in the US (MacDorman et al. 2009). The women who consume alcohol are more likely to suffer from stillbirth as compared to those who have chosen to abstain from it. The risk of stillbirth is increased with the increased intake of alcohol (Marbury et al. 1983). For instance taking more than five drinks in a week increases the chances of suffering from this condition three times more. Study of a 600,000 births revealed a 40 percent increase in the potential for women who took alcohol to suffer from stillbirth as compared to those who did not (Aliyu et al. 2008).
Preterm births occur before the 37 periods of pregnancy. The relationship between this situation and the consumption of alcohol has been controversial due to original research conducted based on it (Martin et al. 2003). Many studies, however, suggest that alcohol has a role to play in this scenario. Consuming ten bottles of an alcoholic beverage has the potential of increasing this risk tenfold. Those who drink alcohol gave been found to experience the condition more than those who have chosen to refrain (Kesmodel et al. 2000).
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders is the major indicator of the effects of alcohol use by a pregnant woman. The frequency of consumption has the direct relation to the cases of FADS among the pregnant women. The research on the link between the alcohol consumption and the FADS is conducted using observation of the drinking patterns, questionnaires and testing of blood alcohol content.
Conclusion
Consumption of alcohol during pregnancy has been established to have varied, diverse effects on the well-being of the fetus. The FAS and FASD are the visible signs of the misuse of this substance by a pregnant mother. However, some effects are invisible even though they have enormous adverse impacts on the outcomes of the births. Some of these birth problems have been associated with the exposure to alcohol during the period of pregnancy.
The existing research has linked drinking by a pregnant woman to the high risks of preterm, miscarriages, SIDS, stillbirth FAS and FASD. Animal and controlled human studies have been used to assess the structural and chemical alterations.
The results have suggested some physiological mechanisms in the relationship between alcohol and these conditions. Prenatal health care providers have a duty to address the use of alcohol by their patients. They have access to brief and reliable tools for screening the alcohol level. The most effective way, however, is to work with the women to control their appetite for alcohol.
The primary point this literature review is to address the fact that everything we consume in the name of drugs contains nutrient configurations that have different impacts on our health. Citing the emerging trend of over-reliance on prescription drugs (Boullanta and Armenti, 2010) highlights, through significant research data, the need to lessen such interactions.
Fundamentally, pregnant women are often in a critical period that requires a stable health condition. With the vague justifications that are often used to justify alcohol consumption, it is important for women to realize that such substances have both positive and negative implications.
Further research
Reference
Boullata, J. I., Armenti, V. T. (2010). Handbook of Drug-Nutrient Interactions. New York, NY: Humana Press.
Martin, J.A.; Hamilton, B.E.; Sutton, P.D., Et Al. (2003) Births: Final Data for 2002. National Vital Statistics Reports
Kesmodel, U.; Wisborg, K.; Olsen, S.F.; Et Al (2002) Moderate Alcohol Intake in Pregnancy and the Risk of Spontaneous Abortion. Alcohol and Alcoholism
Macdorman, M.F., Kirmeyer, S. F Etal (2009) and Perinatal Mortality, United States, 2005. National Vital Statistics Reports
Marbury, M.C.; Linn, S.; Monson, R.; Et Al (1983) the Association of Alcohol Consumption with Outcome of Pregnancy. American Journal of Public Health
Aliyu, M.H.; Wilson, R.E.; Zoorob, R.; Et Al (2008) Alcohol Consumption during Pregnancy and the Risk of Early Stillbirth among Singletons. Alcohol
Kline, J; Stein, Z.; Susser, M (1989) Conception to Birth: Epidemiology of Prenatal Development. New York: Oxford University Press
Harlap, S., Shiono, P.H (1980) Alcohol, Smoking, and Incidence of Spontaneous Abortions in the First and Second Trimester. Lancet
Sokol, R.J (1980) Alcohol and Spontaneous Abortion. Lancet
May. A, Gossage. P (n.d) Maternal Risk Factors for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Not As Simple as It Might Seem. National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh341/15-26.htm
