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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Enid Watson, MDiv¹, Mary Brolin, PhD², Ellen M. Hutchins, ScD, MSW³, Norma Finkelstein, PhD¹, and Bonnie Sharpe, RN, BS, MHA⁴. (1) Institute for Health and Recovery, 349 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02159, 6176613991, enidwatson@healthrecovery.org, (2) Schneider Institute for Health Policy, Brandeis University, Heller School, MS 035, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02454-9110, (3) HRSA, Department of Health and Human Services, Boston Regional Division, Room 1826 - JFK Federal Building, Boston, MA 02203, (4) Family and Women's Health, Lowell Community Health Center, 15-17 Warren St., Lowell, MA 01852

Few prenatal care practitioners screen for alcohol use during pregnancy. One reason for this low screening rate may be due to the need for a short, easy-to-use screening tool. The Alcohol Screening Assessment in Pregnancy Project (ASAP2), a replication grant funded by the HRSA Maternal and Child Health Bureau, implemented the use of a short, easy-to-use alcohol screen shown to be effective in various sites in Massachusetts. ASAP2 further tested out many of the "lessons learned" from the prior grant implementing "best practices" in several new sites across the state. The replication study involved eight prenatal care practices in Massachusetts over a three-year period, collecting data on screenings and brief interventions during each trimester for over 2,000 pregnant women. Contributions of each screening question will be discussed: (ASAP 5 P's -- parental problem, peer problem, partner problem, past personal use, pregnancy personal use -- and smoking) to risk assessment. “Smoking” and “past use” identified the majority of at-risk women. Additionally, subsequent screenings for prenatal alcohol, tobacco and other drug use will be discussed, as well as for depression and past and current domestic violence. Second and third screenings were more useful in identifying depression and past or current domestic violence. We will review the use of brief interventions for at-risk women and the importance of a universal alcohol recommendation. Finally, we will present the perspective of a community health center in adopting and integrating screening and brief intervention practices into its standard practices.

Learning Objectives:

• Be able to identify important screening questions for alcohol and other drug problems among pregnant women.
• Understand the value of multiple screenings in identifying at-risk pregnant women.
• Be able to identify the support that is needed to motivate the use of brief interventions for alcohol and other drug use in prenatal care settings.

Keywords: Alcohol Use, Pregnancy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation