Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders prevention: an exploratory study of women's use of, attitudes toward, and knowledge about alcohol.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

The incidence of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) is increasing, even though it is 100% preventable. This study examined use of, knowledge about, and attitudes toward alcohol of women requesting emergency contraception (EC) and/or a pregnancy test, and evaluated whether a brief intervention would be effective in educating them about the risks of FASD.

DATA SOURCES:

Fifty women from two outpatient clinics participated. Information was collected on demographic and personal health habits, alcohol use, and knowledge of and attitudes toward alcohol. As a brief intervention to increase knowledge about FASD, participants read a short pamphlet about the risks of alcohol exposure in pregnancy and then completed a post-test questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, including means, standard deviations, and skewness, were calculated for all variables. Pearson correlations were computed to assess relationships between demographic/lifestyle variables and attitudes toward and knowledge about alcohol. Paired t-tests were used to analyze the relationship between pretest and post-test knowledge scores.

CONCLUSIONS:

The majority of participants were single (76%), college educated (94%), and received EC at the clinic visit (60%). The average age was 24 years. Slightly over half (52%) reported drinking beer at least once a week, with one to six cans on occasion. Younger women expressed more tolerant attitudes toward alcohol use (p= .02) and drank significantly more beer on occasion (p= .015). Women who reported drinking alcohol when they last had sex were significantly (p= .017) less tolerant in their attitudes toward alcohol use. The intervention used in this study was effective in communicating knowledge about FASD to this population (p < .0001).

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE:

These findings suggest that young women may be engaging in behaviors that could put potential offspring at risk for exposure to alcohol. Clinicians are advised to take a thorough history to determine alcohol use in all women of childbearing age and to provide information regarding FASD prevention.

• Authors: Deborah S Walker, Cynthia S Darling Fisher, Anita Sherman, Barbara Wybrecht, Kathleen Kyndely
• Journal: Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (J Am Acad Nurse Pract) Vol. 17 Issue 5 Pg. 187-93 (May 2005) ISSN: 1041-2972 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15854108 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Contraceptives, Postcoital

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Age Factors
• Alcohol Drinking (adverse effects, epidemiology, psychology)
• Ambulatory Care Facilities
• Attitude to Health
• Contraceptives, Postcoital
• Female
• Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (epidemiology, etiology, prevention & control)
• Health Behavior
• Health Education
• Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
• Health Services Needs and Demand
• Humans
• Life Style
• Michigan (epidemiology)
• Middle Aged
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Tests
• Primary Prevention
• Risk Factors
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Women (education, psychology)