Fewer than one in ten pregnant women in Sweden report drinking alcohol when asked by maternity clinics, a new survey shows.

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The result, gathered from interviews with 5,000 women, is a sharp drop from 2004 when 30 percent of women said they had consumed alcohol while pregnant, reports Sveriges Radio.

In the new study, 8 percent of respondents said that they drank during their pregnancy, with most indicating they had enjoyed a small glass of wine.

One explanation for the decrease may be that maternity clinics now inform all pregnant women using a new method, according to public health minister Maria Larsson.

“I think it’s a fantastic result,” she said, adding that 97 percent answered that they had taken seriously the message to not drink alcohol while pregnant.

Only one out of 100 expectant mothers said they had not been informed.

But despite the drop, there is no evidence to confirm that fewer children are born with complications due to alcohol.

Every year, hundreds of newborns are believed to have some sort of alcohol-related complication.

After the earlier study, midwives who come to maternity clinics have received training in the risks of consuming alcohol during pregnancy.

Larsson believes that the education is now producing results.

Source : TT/The Local