MODERATE PRENATAL ALCOHOL EXPOSURE AND PSYCHOMOTOR DEVELOPMENT AT PRESCHOOL AGE

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.