Pregnant Women’s Knowledge About Alcohol Consumption During Pregnancy and its Consequences: An Israeli Survey

Abstract

Background. Alcohol consumption can negatively affect fetal development, resulting in a range of mental and physical disabilities clinically termed fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Despite suspected rates of maternal drinking during pregnancy, the documented number of children diagnosed with FASD in Israel is extremely low. The aim of this study was to investigate alcohol-consumption behavior and knowledge about the consequences of such consumption among pregnant Israeli women.Methods. A sample of 802 pregnant women completed an anonymous online survey related to their backgrounds, recommendations and education on alcohol consumption during pregnancy, general knowledge regarding the consequences of alcohol consumption during pregnancy and FASD, and alcohol they consumed (frequency and amount) 2 mo prior to conception and during pregnancy. Descriptive statistics included means, standard deviations, ranges, and frequencies. Associations between demographic characteristics and alcohol consumption were assessed using chi-square tests, independent sample t tests, one-way analyses of variances, and Spearman correlations. Results. Of the 802 women sampled, 539 (67.2%) reported drinking alcohol in the 2 mo prior to learning they were pregnant, 96 (12%) reported drinking alcohol during their current pregnancy, and 28.1% reported knowing other women who had consumed alcohol during pregnancy. Higher alcohol consumption rates before pregnancy were found among women in their first pregnancies, women with advance education, Jews, and secular women. About 40% of the sample reported they had not received any education about the dangers of consuming alcohol during pregnancy.Conclusions. A high percentage of pregnant women in Israel drank alcohol close to conception and during pregnancy. Although most of the woman ceased drinking after realizing they were pregnant, a still-worrying percentage continued consuming alcohol and had low knowledge and awareness of the plausible dangers of this behavior. Formal dissemination of information on this topic by healthcare professionals treating pregnant woman did not reach many of them. The results emphasize an urgent need for better education of both professionals and the lay public to increase awareness of the consequences of consuming alcohol during pregnancy.