Assessing the potential impact of alcohol use during pregnancy on women in the postpartum period

Eilidh Duncan, Katrina Forbes-McKay, Sarah Henderson

Research output: Contribution to conferenceAbstractpeer-review

Abstract

Objectives:The principal objective of the research is to examine the potential effects of alcohol consumption during pregnancy on the health of the mother in the postpartum period.

Design: A quantitative questionnaire design was applied as it gave participants more anonymity than qualitative methods. This may be important due to the potentially sensitive nature of alcohol use during pregnancy.

Method: Participants were recruited from Royal Aberdeen Maternity Hospital and Kincardine Community Hospital as they attended their 20 week scan. One hundred and thirty women completed and returned the first questionnaire which included questions assessing current alcohol use. Of the 130 participants, 108 agreed to be followed up after they had given birth. The second questionnaire was sent out to participants around three months after their due date along with a return envelope. This questionnaire contained items relating to pregnancy and labour, and maternal health, the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale 21 (Lovibond and Lovibond, 1995), the Maternal Attachment Inventory (Muller, 1994), the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (Cox, Holden & Sagovsky, 1987), along with questions regarding infant feeding method and current alcohol use.

Results: Data collection is ongoing but will be completed in early January and results will be available by April. Statistical analysis will be conducted to assess the potential impact alcohol consumption during pregnancy has on the health and well being of the new mother.

Conclusions: Completion of this study will further our knowledge about effects of alcohol use during pregnancy. Government advice regarding alcohol use during pregnancy has recently changed to advising total abstinence, this study will provide evidence as to whether this change in guidelines has produced a change in behaviour and whether such a change is warranted.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2009
EventThe British Psychological Society Annual Conference (2009) - Brighton, United Kingdom
Duration: 1 Apr 20093 Apr 2009

Conference

ConferenceThe British Psychological Society Annual Conference (2009)
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityBrighton
Period1/04/093/04/09

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