Movendi International remains concerned about the persisting omission of alcohol as major risk factor for maternal and newborn health and child survival.
For example, the global prevalence of alcohol use during pregnancy in the general population amounts to almost 10%. This a serious risk to the health of pregnant women and their infants.
• Alcohol use during pregnancy is a significant risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes, including stillbirth, premature birth, intrauterine growth retardation and low birth weight.
• Maternal alcohol use is linked with higher mortality rates for pregnant women and infants.
• Alcohol use during pregnancy is linked with increased morbidity and mortality in infants and children.
Movendi has analyzed the multiple pathways of how alcohol risks harming the health, survival, and thriving of mothers and children. We call on WHO and member states to engage with this evidence base, to increase awareness of alcohol as obstacle to SDGs 3.1, 3.2, and 5.6 that matter most in this context, and to identify cost-effective policy solutions to help improve maternal, newborn, and child health and development.