M. Kaminski et al., CHANGE IN ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND COFFEE CONSUMPTION IN PREGNANT-WOMEN -EVOLUTION BETWEEN 1988 AND 1992 IN AN AREA OF HIGH CONSUMPTION, European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology, 60(2), 1995, pp. 121-128
Objective: Analyse the evolution of alcohol, tobacco and coffee consum
ption during pregnancy in a population characterized by a high level o
f consumption and a low socioeconomic situation. Study design: Data we
re obtained from two studies done with the same protocol and questionn
aire in the Roubaix Public Maternity Hospital in 1988 (176 women) and
1992 (235 women); the two periods were compared using univariate tests
and multiple logistic regression to control for social factors. Resul
ts: Between 1988 and 1992, there was a clear decrease in alcohol consu
mption, a slight decrease in coffee consumption and an increase in tob
acco use. These changes affected usual consumption as well as consumpt
ion during pregnancy. The increase in tobacco use was no longer signif
icant after controlling for social factors. However, the decrease in a
lcohol consumption affected all women regardless of sociodemographic c
haracteristics, and remained significant after controlling for these c
haracteristics. Conclusion: Several factors support the hypothesis tha
t the decrease in the reported alcohol consumption is real, for consum
ptions in the low to moderate range. However, it is difficult to ident
ify the role of the several factors involved in this evolution: behavi
our of the general population, attitude among pregnant women, informat
ion and sensitization of prenatal care providers. Besides, one negativ
e aspect needs to be considered: the stability of the incidence of fet
al alcohol syndrome, probably reflecting the stability of the proporti
on of very heavy consumers.