Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) found 18 per cent of women smoked during pregnancy, while 38 per cent consumed alcohol.
Reported November 12, 2011
Smoking and drinking during pregnancy appear to be linked to a woman’s age and socio-economic status, while shifts in official advice have led to confusion about whether it’s safe to drink, a government study suggests.
The study by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) found 18 per cent of women smoked during pregnancy, while 38 per cent consumed alcohol.
More than a third of pregnant women under the age of 25 said they smoked during their pregnancy, while 20 per cent indicated they consumed alcohol.
Among older pregnant women, 44 per cent of those aged over 30 said they consumed alcohol, while 10 per cent smoked.
Poorer expecting mothers from regional locations were most likely to smoke, with those under 25 more than three times as likely to smoke than mothers aged 40 and over.
As a family’s socio-economic position increased, smoking was less likely, and alcohol consumption more probable.
High alcohol consumption during pregnancy has been associated with miscarriage, still birth, birth defects, and neurological and cognitive problems, while the risks of smoking include spontaneous abortion, ectopic pregnancy, low birth weight, respiratory problems and poor cognitive development.
Changing guidelines on alcohol consumption during pregnancy appears to have led to a misconception among expecting mums over the age of 30 that it is safe to drink while pregnant, AIFS study manager Dr Ben Edwards says.
Australian government recommendations between 1992 and 2001 advised pregnant women to not drink any alcohol. However, in 2001, the guidelines were revised to suggest it was safe to drink small amounts of alcohol during pregnancy.
The decision was reversed again in 2009 to current guidelines, which recommended no alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
‘While some women reported drinking alcohol, our study didn’t go into how frequently they were drinking or how much,’ Dr Edwards said.
‘It may be that some women had an occasional drink while others consumed alcohol more often.’
The study used data from a longitudinal study of Australian children.
The Growing Up in Australia study has tracked the progress of more than 10,000 children since 2004.
Researchers and policy makers will present the study’s full findings at a forum in Melbourne on Tuesday and Wednesday.