YOUTH BELIEFS AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE RISKS OF DRINKING WHILE PREGNANT

BECAUSE NO PUBLISHED studies of young persons' knowledge and awareness of fetal alcohol syndrome are available, the awareness and beliefs ab out drinking while pregnant in several large samples of young persons ages 13-20 are examined.Approximately 81 percent of the entire sample that completed questionnaires in school surveys believe that drinking alcohol while pregnant can definitely harm the fetus, although males a nd younger persons are less likely to believe in this risk A substanti al proportion of respondents believe that occasional heavy use is not harmful and suggest a safe level of drinking that is higher than the S urgeon General's abstinence recommendations. Only 72 percent have hear d of fetal alcohol syndrome, and more than one-third incorrectly repor t that it describes a baby born addicted to alcohol, that the syndrome can be inherited, and that it can be cured. As in prior studies of ad ults, beliefs about drinking while pregnant are inconsistent with the Surgeon General's recommendations. Implications for increasing the awa reness of the risk of drinking while pregnant are discussed.