ALCOHOL-CONSUMPTION AMONG PARENT AND NONP REGNANT TEENAGERS

Aim: To study abnormal alcohol ingestion among parents and family dysf unction of pregnant and non pregnant teenagers. Subjects and methods: Pregnant and non pregnant girls from 12 to 18 years old consulting in the Teenager Health Unit of a public hospital outpatient clinic were s tudied. Their degree of instruction attained, marital status, social b ehavior, alcohol, drug intake and history of child abuse was recorded. The level of instruction, marital status, alcohol ingestion and work stability of their fathers was also studied. Results: One hundred sixt een pregnant and 60 non pregnant teenagers were studied. The fathers o f pregnant girls had a higher level of alcohol consumption, more civil irregularities and a higher level of family dysfunction. Among these girls, a higher frequency of neurological abnormalities and fetal alco hol syndrome was observed. They had also a lower educational level and a higher degree of alcohol and drug use. Conclusions: Alcohol consump tion among parents leads to family dysfunction and has adverse physica l, intellectual and social consequences in the offspring.