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.