CHANGE IN ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND COFFEE CONSUMPTION IN PREGNANT-WOMEN -EVOLUTION BETWEEN 1988 AND 1992 IN AN AREA OF HIGH CONSUMPTION

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.