Research Update

Alcohol Use and Pregnancy: An Important Canadian Public Health and Social Issue

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Methodology
3. Women's Alcohol Use Patterns
4. Women's Alcohol Use Patterns During Pregnancy
   • 4.1 Drinking While Pregnant and Levels of Consumption
   • 4.2 Recommendations and Implications
5. Characteristics and Circumstances of Women Who Use Alcohol During Pregnancy
   • 5.1 Issues Faced by Women Who Use Alcohol
   • 5.2 Recommendations and Implications
6. Universal Prevention of Prenatal Alcohol Use Problems
   • 6.1 Population Health Promotion
   • 6.2 Alcohol Control Measures
   • 6.3 Public Awareness Activities
   • 6.4 Measures Directed to Adolescents and Young Adults
   • 6.5 Multi-Component Strategies
   • 6.6 Recommendations and Implications
7. Selective Prevention of Prenatal Alcohol Use Problems
   • 7.1 Targeted Selective Prevention Messaging
   • 7.2 Identifying Pregnant Women with Substance Use Problems
   • 7.3 Brief Interventions
   • 7.4 Recommendations and Implications
8. Indicated Prevention of Prenatal Alcohol Use Problems
   • 8.1 Identifying Women Who Benefit from Indicated Prevention Measures
   • 8.2 Barriers to Identifying Pregnant Women with Significant Substance Use Issues
   • 8.3 Outreach
   • 8.4 Targeted Indicated Prevention Messaging
   • 8.5 Prenatal Medical and Social Attention
   • 8.6 Providing Comprehensive and Practical Care
   • 8.7 Canadian Models
   • 8.8 Prevention Through Diagnosis
   • 8.9 Culturally Appropriate Treatment for Aboriginal Women
   • 8.10 Cost-effectiveness of Treatment
   • 8.11 Recommendations and Implications
9. Training and Professional Development
   • 9.1 Recommendations and Implications
10. Policy and Legal Responses
    • 10.1 Recommendations and Implications

• References
• Table
• Table 1: Summary of Co-existing Conditions Experienced by Pregnant Women Who Use Alcohol
• Figures
• Figure 1: Frequency of Drinking, Females 12 and Older, 2000-01
• Figure 2: Young Women's Use of Alcohol (Drinking Any Alcoholic Beverage Once a Week or More), 2001-02
• Figure 3: Use of Alcohol by Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Women, Alberta, 2000-01
• Figure 4: Income-based Differences Among Women Who Reported Drinking During Their Last Pregnancy, 2000-01

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to extend sincere appreciation to Mary Berube, Virginia Carver, Margaret Leslie, Nancy Poole, Caroline Tait and Pam Woodsworth, who provided external review of this research update.