ALCOHOL AND PREGNANCY - DOCTORS ATTITUDES, KNOWLEDGE AND CLINICAL-PRACTICE

Aims. This study was undertaken to gain an understanding about doctors ' perspectives on alcohol consumption in pregnancy. The specific aim w as to examine attitudes, knowledge and clinical practice of a sample o f New Zealand doctors. Methods. A questionnaire was sent to all paedia tricians, all obstetricians and a random sample of general practitione rs throughout New Zealand. Results. All respondents felt there should be a limit on alcohol consumption in pregnancy and 46% recommended abs tinence. Doctors perceived public awareness of the risks of alcohol co nsumption in pregnancy to be poor and over 90% believed awareness need ed to improve. Eighty-nine per cent of obstetricians and 84% of genera l practitioners reported they felt sufficiently knowledgeable to infor m people of the risks of alcohol consumption in pregnancy. Fifty-nine per cent of obstetricians and 40% of general practitioners routinely e nquire about alcohol consumption at the first antenatal contact (p < 0 .003). Fifty three per cent of obstetricians and 48% of general practi tioners routinely advise women about alcohol consumption at the first antenatal contact, Conclusions. Doctors in New Zealand believe alcohol in pregnancy is an important health issue. Awareness of the risks of alcohol consumption in pregnancy is perceived as poor. Doctors' attitu des to alcohol consumption in pregnancy do not reflect their reported clinical practice.