B. Larroque et al., MODERATE PRENATAL ALCOHOL EXPOSURE AND PSYCHOMOTOR DEVELOPMENT AT PRESCHOOL AGE, American journal of public health, 85(12), 1995, pp. 1654-1661
Objectives. This study investigated the effect of moderate prenatal al
cohol exposure on psychomotor development of preschool age children in
a longitudinal study. Methods. Pregnant women were interviewed about
their alcohol consumption at their first visit to the maternity hospit
al in Roubaix, France. Alcohol consumption before pregnancy and during
the first trimester was assessed with a structured questionnaire. The
psychomotor development of 155 children of these women was assessed w
ith the McCarthy scales of children's abilities when the children were
about 4 1/2 years old. Results. Consumption of 1.5 oz of absolute alc
ohol (approximately three drinks) or more per day during pregnancy was
significantly related to a decrease of 7 points in the mean score on
the general cognitive index of the McCarthy scales, after gender birth
order, maternal education score for family stimulation, family status
maternal employment, childs age and examination, and examiner were co
ntrolled for. Conclusions. This study showed that moderate to heavy al
cohol consumption during pregnancy at levels well below those associat
ed with fetal alcohol syndrome, has effects on children's psychomotor
development.