What do pregnant women know about alcohol use during pregnancy?
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A qualitative study exploring pregnant women's awareness about alcohol use during pregnancy.
IRAS ID
259823
Contact name
Jo Gould
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Brighton
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 1 days
Research summary
In 2016 the Chief Medical Officer advised pregnant women that ‘the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all’ and that ‘drinking in pregnancy can lead to long-term harm to the baby.’ Before this, although abstinence in pregnancy was advised, women were told that low level drinking, described as one to two units of alcohol up to twice a week, had not been shown to be harmful. The 2016 change recognised that the evidence was not robust enough to support low level drinking.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) lies at the severest end of a spectrum of disorders caused by alcohol use in pregnancy. FAS is defined by facial changes, growth deficiency and problems with brain function, and is associated with high levels of alcohol use in early pregnancy. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disodrder (FASD) describes the whole spectrum, and is associated with over 400 comorbid conditions and adverse outcomes in later life. It is the most common cause of non-inherited learning disabilities around the world. Alcohol consumption at any point in pregnancy has the potential to cause FASD. Studies suggest that between 2-5% of children in the UK might be affected, and in a 2018 UK population-based birth-cohort study of 13,495 children, 6% screened positive for FASD.
In light of the potentially adverse effects of alcohol use in pregnancy, and the recent change in guidance, our study asks: what do women know about alcohol use during pregnancy? Are they aware of current public health advice? We aim to explore how pregnant women think information about alcohol use in pregnancy could be improved and made more accessible.
This study will use in-depth interviews with 6-12 women who have booked for maternity care at 2 clinics in Brighton & Hove. Participation will involve one interview that will last no longer than an hour.
REC name
London - Brent Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/LO/1211
Date of REC Opinion
30 Jul 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion