Pregnant women’s understanding and conceptualisations of the harms from drinking alcohol: a qualitative study

Autor: Jean Paul, Cate Nagle, Evelyne Muggli, Leisa McCarthy, Sophie Gibson
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2019
Předmět:
DOI: 10.1101/815209
Popis: BackgroundDespite women’s awareness that drinking alcohol in pregnancy can lead to lifelong disabilities in a child, it appears that an awareness alone does not discourage some pregnant women from drinking.ObjectivesTo explore influences on pregnant women’s decision making around alcohol use in a population with frequent and heavy peer drinking (i.e. in two Indigenous Australian communities) and another of non-Indigenous pregnant women attending antenatal care in a range of socioeconomic settings.MethodsIndividual and group discussions were held with both Indigenous Australian and non-Indigenous pregnant women attending a variety of antenatal care models, including two Indigenous maternity services in Australia. Data were analysed using inductive content analysis.ResultsA total of 14 Indigenous Australian and 14 non-Indigenous pregnant women participated in this study. Analysis identified five main influences on pregnant women’s alcohol use: the level and detail of women’s understanding of harm; women’s information sources on alcohol use in pregnancy; how this information influenced their choices; how women conceptualised their pregnancy; and whether the social and cultural environment supported abstinence.Conclusions for practiceThis study provides insight into how Indigenous Australian and non-Indigenous pregnant women understand and conceptualise the harms from drinking alcohol, including how their social and cultural environments impact their ability to abstain. Strategies for behaviour change need to: correct misinformation about supposed ‘safe’ timing, quantity and types of alcohol; develop a more accurate perception of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder; reframe messages about harm to messages about optimising the child’s health and cognitive outcomes; and develop a holistic approach encompassing women’s social and cultural context.
Databáze: OpenAIRE