Study Shows Drinking Still a Problem For Pregnant Women

Posted on May 23, 2009 in Latest News

A 15-year old study by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that the number of pregnant women who drink alcohol is increasing. This study which included about 533,506 women aged between 18 to 44 years, revealed that 1 in 8 pregnant women continue to drink alcohol despite its dangerous effects on the newborn.

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can lead to severe mental and physical disabilities to the baby. The surgeon general has advised pregnant women to abstain from alcohol to prevent alcohol related birth defects. Despite the warnings, the study shows that far too many pregnant women consume alcohol during pregnancy.

This study by CDC showed that 1 in 50 women resorted to binge drinking during pregnancy. Among the women who drank alcohol, 14.4 % were college graduates, 13.7% were employed, 13.4% were married and 17.7% were between the ages 35 to 44 years. The researchers also observed that pregnant women who were employed and unmarried were more likely to drink alcohol than other women. This study did not determine the reasons as to why pregnant women consumed alcohol

According to CDC, there is no safe amount of alcohol to drink during pregnancy –it should be completely avoided. Avoiding alcohol can prevent fetal alcohol syndrome, which can cause severe physical, mental and behavioral problems in the offspring.

Clark Denny, the primary author of this study, opines that healthcare providers can help in reducing alcohol consumption by pregnant women by routinely asking them about alcohol consumption and advising them against alcohol useز

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