Alcohol use and attitudes thought pregnancy and motherhood during pregnancy in a group of Portuguese women

Introduction Alcohol during pregnancy is a significant health problem with negative prenatal, neonatal and later outcomes. In spite of increase consumption of Portuguese women, data about alcohol during pregnancy is scarce. The objective is to describe patterns of alcohol consumption and related attitudes though pregnancy in group of Portuguese pregnant women. Method The study group includes 222 women seeking prenatal care (childbirth preparation courses) in public health services in the north of Portugal. After a presentation of the aims of the study, and followed a written informed consent, pregnant women fulfil the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test - AUDIT (Babor, 2001) and the Pregnancy and Maternal Attitudes Scale - PMAS (Xavier, Paul & Sousa, 2001). Results Data concerning descriptive analysis of the group will be present. We found that more than 20% of the pregnant women continue to drink during pregnancy. Among this group who reported consumption, a majority (82.6%) reported a consumption frequency of once/month or less and 17.4% reported use two or four times/month. No one reported a superior amount. Results also indicated that consumptions are related to differences on some dimensions of the psychological experience of pregnancy (PMAS: The Imagined Child and Body Image and Dependency subscales). Conclusions Despite WHO, European and Portuguese governmental concerns and recommendations, more than 20% of pregnant women continue to drink. If women were not pregnant, this data corresponds to level risk 1- abstinent and low risk drinkers, but during pregnancy must be viewed with concern and indicate a continued need for research.