Youth beliefs and knowledge about the risks of drinking while pregnant

Because no published studies of young persons' knowledge and awareness of fetal alcohol syndrome are available, the awareness and beliefs about drinking while pregnant in several large samples of young persons ages 13-20 are examined. Approximately 81 percent of the entire sample that completed...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Public health reports (1974) 1995-11, Vol.110 (6), p.754-763
Main Authors: MacKinnon, D.P. (Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ.), Williams-Avery, R.M, Pentz, M.A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Addictive behaviors
Adolescent
Adult
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
ADULTE
ADULTOS
Alcohol drinking
Alcohol Drinking - adverse effects
Alcohol use
Alcoholic beverages
Alcoholism
ALCOHOLISMO
Alcohols
ALCOOLISME
ARIZONA
Attitude to Health
BEBIDAS ALCOHOLICAS
Biological and medical sciences
BOISSON ALCOOLISEE
CALIFORNIA
CALIFORNIE
College students
COMPORTEMENT DE BOISSON
DEMOGRAFIA
DEMOGRAPHIE
ELEVE
ENCUESTAS
ENQUETE
ESTUDIANTES
Female
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Fetal alcohol syndrome
GESTACION
GESTATION
HABITOS EN LA BEBIDA
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
High school students
High schools
Humans
INDIANA
JEUNESSE
JUVENTUD
KANSAS
Logistic Models
Male
Medical research
Medical sciences
MISSOURI
Neonatal disorders
Pregnancy
Psychology, Adolescent
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Public health
Random Allocation
RIESGO
RISQUE
SALUD
SANTE
Scientific Contributions
United States
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Summary:Because no published studies of young persons' knowledge and awareness of fetal alcohol syndrome are available, the awareness and beliefs about drinking while pregnant in several large samples of young persons ages 13-20 are examined. Approximately 81 percent of the entire sample that completed questionnaires in school surveys believe that drinking alcohol while pregnant can definitely harm the fetus, although males and younger persons are less likely to believe in this risk. A substantial proportion of respondents believe that occasional heavy use is not harmful and suggest a safe level of drinking that is higher than the Surgeon General's abstinence recommendations. Only 72 percent have heard of fetal alcohol syndrome, and more than one-third incorrectly report that it describes a baby born addicted to alcohol, that the syndrome can be inherited, and that it can be cured. As in prior studies of adults, beliefs about drinking while pregnant are inconsistent with the Surgeon General's recommendations. Implications for increasing the awareness of the risk of drinking while pregnant are discussed
ISSN:0033-3549
1468-2877