What influences Australian women to not drink alcohol during pregnancy?
Sandra C. Jones A B and Joanne Telenta A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Centre for Health Initiatives, Innovation Campus, University Of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: sandraj@uow.edu.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 18(1) 68-73 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY10077
Submitted: 19 October 2010 Accepted: 26 May 2011 Published: 21 October 2011
Abstract
There is a strong social norm against consuming alcohol during pregnancy. However, many women do not realise they are pregnant until the sixth week and are not provided with information about the risks of consuming alcohol until they visit a health professional in the second trimester. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 12 midwives and 12 pregnant women from two regions in NSW in 2008–09 to explore attitudes towards alcohol consumption during pregnancy, and the factors that may encourage or inhibit women from following the recommendation to abstain from drinking while pregnant. Both groups noted the social issues around pregnant women consuming alcohol due to perceived social norms and the challenges in not revealing early pregnancy status at social events.
Additional keywords: attitudes, Australia, social norms.
References
Australian Broadcasting Commission News (2007) Mums-to-be warned on alcohol danger. Available at http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/12/03/2107685.htm?site=news [Verified 10 September 2010]Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2007) Statistics on drug use in Australia 2006. Available at http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index. cfm/title/10393 [Verified 15 August 2010]
Best Start (2003) ‘Keys to a successful alcohol and pregnancy communication campaign. A manual by Best Start: Ontario’s maternal, newborn and early child development resource centre.’ (Best Start: Toronto, ON)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2004) Alcohol consumption among women who are pregnant or who might become pregnant – United States, 2002. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 53, 1178–1181.
Cohn LD, Macfarlane S, Yanez C, Imai WK (1995) Risk-perception: differences between adolescents and adults. Health Psychology 14, 217–222.
| Risk-perception: differences between adolescents and adults.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK2MzmvFaitg%3D%3D&md5=fc7133ebfe3289dee26523852fca9375CAS | 7641662PubMed |
Colvin L, Payne J, Parsons D, Kurinczuk JJ, Bower C (2007) Alcohol consumption during pregnancy in non-indigenous West Australian women. Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research 31, 276–284.
| Alcohol consumption during pregnancy in non-indigenous West Australian women.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17250620PubMed |
de Jong-Potjer LC, Lieke C, de Bock GH, Zaadstra BM, de Jong OR, Verllove-Vanhorick SP, Springer MP (2003) Women’s interest in GP-initiated pre-conception counselling in The Netherlands. Family Practice 20, 142–146.
| Women’s interest in GP-initiated pre-conception counselling in The Netherlands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3s3gsVOgsg%3D%3D&md5=16c7bb8b55265cd62f11c07259092cbcCAS | 12651787PubMed |
Elsinga J, Lieke C, de Jong-Potjer LC, van der Pal-de Bruin KM, le Cessie S, Assendelft WJ, Buitendijk SE (2008) The effect of preconception counselling on lifestyle and other behaviour before and during pregnancy. Women’s Health Issues 18, S117–S125.
| The effect of preconception counselling on lifestyle and other behaviour before and during pregnancy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 19059545PubMed |
Environics Research Group (2003) ‘Awareness of the effects of alcohol use during pregnancy and fetal alcohol syndrome: results of a national survey. Final report.’ (Health Canada: Ottawa, ON)
Floyd RL, Decouflé P, Hungerford DW (1999) Alcohol use prior to pregnancy recognition. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 17, 101–107.
| Alcohol use prior to pregnancy recognition.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK1MvhvVGrsQ%3D%3D&md5=f5cb5fc6f36f4842cb29f02a856e8a5aCAS | 10490051PubMed |
Giglia RC, Binns CW (2007) Patterns of alcohol intake of pregnant and lactating women in Perth, Australia. Drug and Alcohol Review 26, 493–500.
| Patterns of alcohol intake of pregnant and lactating women in Perth, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD2svotlWisw%3D%3D&md5=df0838e4c15c78da25df952cfc540dcbCAS | 17701512PubMed |
Göransson M, Magnusson A, Bergman H, Rydberg U, Heilig M (2003) Fetus at risk: prevalence of alcohol consumption during pregnancy estimated with a simple screening method in Swedish clinics. Addiction (Abingdon, England) 98, 1513–1520.
| Fetus at risk: prevalence of alcohol consumption during pregnancy estimated with a simple screening method in Swedish clinics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hahn A, Renner B (1998) Perception of health risks: how smoker status affects defensive optimism. Anxiety, Stress, and Coping 11, 93–112.
| Perception of health risks: how smoker status affects defensive optimism.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Koren G, Partuszak A (1990) Prevention of unnecessary pregnancy terminations by counselling women on drug, chemical and radiation exposure during the first trimester. Teratology 41, 657–661.
| Prevention of unnecessary pregnancy terminations by counselling women on drug, chemical and radiation exposure during the first trimester.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK3c3otFamtw%3D%3D&md5=2a6d9f86a7f484b99b8398d94ec4d134CAS | 2353314PubMed |
Koren G, Koren T, Gladstone J (1996) Mild maternal drinking and pregnancy outcome: perceived versus true risks. Clinica Chimica Acta 246, 155–162.
| Mild maternal drinking and pregnancy outcome: perceived versus true risks.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK28XitVSksbs%3D&md5=72a77c36fc2bd80b3da80afb814505c6CAS |
Koren G, Nulman I, Chudley AE, Loocke C (2003) Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Canadian Medical Association Journal 169, 1181–1185.
National Health and Medical Research Council (2001) Australian alcohol guidelines: health risks and benefits. Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.
National Health and Medical Research Council (2007) Australian alcohol guidelines for low risk drinking. Draft for public consultation. Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.
National Health and Medical Research Council (2009) Australian guidelines to reduce health risks from drinking alcohol. Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.
O’Brien P (2007) Is it all right for women to drink small amounts of alcohol in pregnancy? Yes. British Medical Journal 335, 856
| Is it all right for women to drink small amounts of alcohol in pregnancy? Yes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17962286PubMed |
O’Leary CM, Heuzenroeder L, Elliott EJ, Bower C (2007) A review of policies on alcohol use during pregnancy in Australia and other English-speaking countries, 2006. The Medical Journal of Australia 186, 466–471. [See comment]
Public Health Agency of Canada (2004) ‘Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: knowledge and attitudes of health professionals about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.’ (Public Health Agency of Canada: Ottawa)
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (2006) ‘Alcohol consumption and the outcomes of pregnancy statement No. 5.’ (London: RCOG)
Schwarzer R (1994) Optimism, vulnerability, and self-beliefs as health-related cognitions: a systematic overview. Psychology & Health 9, 161–180.
| Optimism, vulnerability, and self-beliefs as health-related cognitions: a systematic overview.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Simmonds A (2008) Let’s lose the dogma about mothers-to-be. The Sydney Morning Herald 4 March, p. 11.
Stark J (2007) Abortion fear on alcohol-in-pregnancy advice. The Age 15 November, p. 4.
Testa M, Quigley BM, Das Eiden R (2003) The effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on infant mental development: a meta-analytical review. Alcohol and Alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire) 38, 295–304.
| The effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on infant mental development: a meta-analytical review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXkvVSntbk%3D&md5=6ba286ac010fccad5e0e5a64197228b9CAS |
The National Organisation for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Related Disorders Incorporated (2008) Alcohol and pregnancy. Available at http://www.nofasard.org.au/media/pdfs/alcohol_pregnancy_brochure/brochure1.pdf [Verified 4 September 2010]
