Alcohol Use During Pregnancy and Awareness of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
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AWARENESS OF THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL USE DURING PREGNANCY AND FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME RESULTS OF A NATIONAL SURVEY Prepared for: Health Canada Prepared by: Environics Research Group Limited January, 2000 PN4568 FINAL REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 3 2.0 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS ............................................................................................................. 4 3.0 BEHAVIOURS TO INCREASE LIKELIHOOD OF HAVING HEALTHY BABY .................................. 7 A. Top-of-Mind Awareness of Behaviours .............................................................................. 7 B. Assessing the Importance of Specific Actions .................................................................... 8 4.0 EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL USE DURING PREGNANCY ................................................................... 10 A. Beliefs about the Effects of Alcohol Use ............................................................................ 10 B. Beliefs about the Effects of Specific Amounts of Alcohol .................................................. 12 5.0 RECALL OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL USE ........................................ 13 6.0 AWARENESS OF FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME AND FETAL ALCOHOL EFFECTS ........................ 15 A. Awareness of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome............................................................................... 15 B. Awareness of Fetal Alcohol Effects .................................................................................... 16 7.0 INFORMATION SOURCES ............................................................................................................. 17 8.0 SUPPORT FOR INITIATIVES TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE RISKS OF ALCOHOL USE ............................................................................................................................. 19 9.0 WOMEN AND THEIR PARTNERS ................................................................................................. 21 A. Alcohol Use During Pregnancy ......................................................................................... 21 B. Influence of Partner on Alcohol Use During Pregnancy .................................................... 22 10.0 MEN AND THEIR PARTNERS ....................................................................................................... 23 11.0 COMMUNICATIONS IMPLICATIONS ............................................................................................. 24 APPENDICES Survey Methods English Questionnaire (with marginals) French Questionnaire 1.0 INTRODUCTION In November 1999, Environics Research Group Lim- The survey examined knowledge and beliefs about ited was retained by Health Canada to conduct a alcohol use during pregnancy, awareness of FAS and benchmark survey of key population segments, to FAE, recall of information and preference for infor- measure knowledge of the effects of alcohol use dur- mation sources about the impact of alcohol, support ing pregnancy and awareness of Fetal Alcohol Syn- for public information initiatives, and the expected drome (FAS) and Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE). The behaviours of women and partners of women, dur- population segments included women, aged 18 to 40, ing pregnancy. and partners of women, aged 18 to 40. This age group represents women in their child-bearing years, and This report presents the findings of the survey and partners of women in this age group, who would be recommendations regarding directions for commu- the key target groups of a campaign to raise aware- nications initiatives. The survey methods and the ness and knowledge of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. English and French questionnaires used in the survey are appended to this report. Statistical tables are pre- Environics conducted a nation-wide survey of 1,205 sented under separate cover. respondents, including 902 women and 303 men. The margin of error for the sample of women is ±3.3 percentage points, 19 times in 20; the margin of error for the sample of men is ±5.8 percentage points. The survey was conducted between November 26 and December 9, 1999. environics EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL USE/FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME 3 2.0 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS The major findings of the survey are: A detailed summary of findings is as follows: There is a high level of knowledge that alcohol When asked, in an open-ended question, to name use during pregnancy is harmful to the child, and important things that women can do to increase the more consumption the more harmful and the likelihood of having a healthy baby, majori- likely the effects, but there is confusion about the ties of respondents mention good nutrition (75%), safety of small amounts of alcohol. cutting down on or stopping smoking (63%) and cutting down on or stopping alcohol use (52%). There is high awareness of FAS and FAE most One-quarter (25%) mention increasing or maintain- respondents have heard of the terms but there ing physical activity. About one in ten each men- is little knowledge of what these are. tion cutting down on or stopping drug use (14%) and visiting a doctor or health professional (11%). Most women say they would stop or cut back al- Much smaller proportions mention other behav- cohol use if they were to become pregnant. The iours. effect of male partners is apparent on positive side women are most receptive to support and When asked to specifically about the importance encouragement from their spouses to stop or cut of a number of behaviours, majorities say cutting back. down on or stopping smoking (63%), cutting down on or stopping using alcohol (60%) and eat- Almost three-quarters of respondents recall see- ing nutritious food (54%) are one of the most im- ing information about the effects of alcohol use portant things that pregnant women might do to on a child during pregnancy; almost half say a increase the likelihood that their baby will be born doctors office would be their best source of in- healthy. Significant minorities also say the same formation about the topic. of visiting a doctor or health professional regularly (42%) and avoiding second-hand smoke (36%). There is substantial public support for initiatives Much smaller proportions place the same degree to inform about the risks of alcohol use, includ- of importance on avoiding environmental pollu- ing government-sponsored advertising, warning tion (22%), avoiding stressful situations (19%) and messages on alcohol advertising, warning labels reducing strenuous physical activity (12%). on alcohol products, and others. There is unanimous belief that the more alcohol Men in general are somewhat more likely than a pregnant woman drinks, the more likely that women to think that alcohol use during preg- the baby will be harmed (98%) and that the more nancy is safe. alcohol a pregnant woman drinks, the more harm that may be done to the baby (98%). There is less Women with lower levels of education are some- belief, although still at a majority level, that any what less knowledgeable about the risks of alco- alcohol consumption during pregnancy can harm hol use during pregnancy than those with higher the baby (66%). A slight majority, however, be- levels of education. lieve that a small amount of alcohol use during pregnancy can usually be considered safe (51%). Quebec women are significantly more likely than Much smaller proportions believe that alcohol women outside Quebec to think that alcohol use use before a pregnancy begins can harm a baby, during pregnancy is safe. even if a woman stops alcohol use during the preg- nancy (39%), that a small amount of alcohol con- Women who have greater alcohol consumption sumption during pregnancy would never lead to (as measured by number of drinks per week) are serious harm to the baby (30%) and that a mod- more likely than those who drink less to think that erate amount of alcohol consumption during alcohol consumption during pregnancy is safe. pregnancy can usually be considered safe (25%). environics EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL USE/FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME 4 There is almost unanimous belief that alcohol use facial deformities (8%), lower I.Q./retardation during pregnancy can lead to life-long disabili- (7%), behavioural problems (7%) and low birth ties in a child (89%). Similarly, most (82%) do weight (5%). not believe that the effects of alcohol use on a child disappear as the child grows older. Fewer respondents (56%), express awareness of Fetal Alcohol Effects, but detailed knowledge is When asked about specific amounts of alcohol much more limited. Among those who express consumption in terms of its effect on a baby that awareness, the most common descriptions are is born, seven in ten each think that it is not at physical disorders (17%), baby addicted to alco- all safe for a pregnant woman to drink one alco- hol/experiences withdrawal (14%), learning dis- holic drink each day during the pregnancy (69%) abilities (14%), brain damage (10%) and delayed or three or four alcoholic drinks each weekend development (10%). Fewer mention lower I.Q./ during the pregnancy (68%). However, opinion retardation/Downs Syndrome (8%), effect of is divided on the use of smaller amounts of alco- alcohol on fetus (8%), cranial/facial deformities hol, such as drinking two alcoholic drinks on two (8%), mental disorders (7%), behavioural prob- or three different occasions during the pregnancy lems (7%), low birth weight (6%), Attention (47%