Original scientific paper
Alcohol and Pregnancy in France: a New-survey from Internet Forums in 2009–2010
Stephanie Toutain
; Université Paris Descartes, Social Sciences Departement, France
Abstract
Introduction: In spite of the implementation of national policy
in 2007 to educate people about the risks related to drinking alcohol during
pregnancy, many women carry on drinking when they are pregnant. It
seems essential to trace the history of the evolution of pregnant women's
knowledge and opinions, in order to understand their attitudes towards the
risks related to drinking alcohol during pregnancy and their understanding
of the messages aimed at them. Method: A qualitative approach based on
the chats of 35 pregnant women on Internet forums between September
2009 and September 2010 was carried out. Result: Women who shared on
Internet about »alcohol and pregnancy« are younger and better educated
than in previous years, which is in keeping with the development of the phenomenon
of binge drinking. Even if these women are perfectly aware of the
importance of total abstinence, they often drink when they first get pregnant
and only stop drinking once they actually realize that they are pregnant.
Discussion: The consequences of drinking alcohol on the unborn baby during
the first weeks of pregnancy are underestimated because medical staff
are not very well informed and consequently give mothers-to-be inadequate
information. The development of continuous education for medical staff,
that started in 2007, should remedy the situation.
Keywords
alcohol; forum; pregnancy; binge drinking; France
Hrčak ID:
136423
URI
Publication date:
1.7.2013.
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