Rates of smoking during pregnancy have diminished over the past 20 years but the level of alcohol consumption among expectant mothers has increased, a study of women presenting for ante-natal care reveals. Martin Wallreports.
The report, based on information collected from over 120,000 patients at the Coombe Women's Hospital in Dublin since 1987, states that data in relation to heavy alcohol use in younger pregnant women is "worrying".
It also suggests that the risks of alcohol-related faetal harm in Ireland are "high".
The report notes that recent research shows the effects of pre-natal alcohol exposure on the infant are more widespread and can result from lower levels of exposure than was previously thought.
"Binge drinking has been highlighted as particularly harmful to the foetus even when weekly average alcohol levels are relatively low", it states.
It says that "the kind of problems seen in these children often masquerade as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or oppositional defiant disorder with similar problems of attention and behavioural control".
It adds that over 60 per cent of women consumed alcohol during their pregnancy with over 56 per cent saying that they drank up to five units per week.
Over two-thirds of all pregnant women under the age of 18 reported drinking alcohol during their pregnancy.
"The 18-24 age category reported the highest percentage drinking over 10 units per week", the study notes.
"Overall, in most age categories about one in 10 women report drinking more than six units of alcohol per week in pregnancy," it adds.
The study also highlights significant differences in the pattern of drinking in pregnancy between Irish women and those from outside the EU.
The research indicates that nearly 75 per cent of women from outside of the EU reported consuming no alcohol during pregnancy compared with only 21 per cent among Irish from Ireland.
"Irish and UK-born mothers were more likely to report themselves as consuming more than six units a week as compared with EU and non-EU nationals," it states.
The report also says that in 2005, the most recent year for which there is data, that over 45 per cent of women did not stop smoking during pregnancy.
It says that a higher percentage of very young expectant mothers reported themselves to be smokers than older mothers.
It also adds that while the use of illicit drugs during pregnancy was far more infrequent, nearly 5 per cent of all pregnant women used some form of drug.
Minister for Health Mary Harney said that she was surprised at some of the findings of the survey.
She described as "very scary" the finding that 47 per cent of pregnant women smoked.
The possibility of introducing mandatory labels on alcohol products warning of the dangers to women of drinking during pregnancy would be examined.
"I hope we can examine in Ireland the possibility of labelling alcohol products as they are doing now in France and advise people that if they are pregnant that consuming alcohol can be dangerous," she said.
Lead researcher on the study, Dr Siobhán Barry, visiting psychiatrist to the Coombe hospital, said the alcohol consumption patterns in pregnancy gave particular cause for concern.
Master of the Coombe hospital Dr Chris Fitzpatrick said that the the issue of alcohol in pregnancy had to be taken far more seriously.
Prof Deirdre Murphy of Trinity College Dublin said that women had perhaps been aware that excessive prolonged alcohol intake could have an adverse effect on the pregnancy outcome for their child's growth, development and eventual behaviour.
However, she said that they were far less aware that even moderate intake over the course of pregnancy may have a significant impact on the child's health and wellbeing.
Rosemary Garth, director of Drinks Manufacturers of Ireland said: "The results highlight the need for a comprehensive response to raise awareness and educate women about the risks of drinking alcohol during pregnancy."
Coombe study: the findings . . .
Alcohol . . .
• Over 60% of women consumed alcohol during pregnancy
• 7.1% of all pregnant women admitted to drinking more than six units per week
Smoking . . .
• In 2005, over 45% of smokers did not stop during pregnancy
Illicit drugs . . .
• Nearly 5% of all pregnant women used some form of drug
. . . and the recommendations
• There is a need for a much more pro-active policy and a set of actions to reduce alcohol intake in pregnancy.
• Feasibility of routine collection in all hospitals and primary care settings of data on ante-natal alcohol, tobacco and illicit drug use should be determined
• Based on this feasibility study routine ante-natal monitoring of substance use should be established
• System for post-natal detection of faetal alcohol spectrum disorders in Ireland should be introduced
• Efforts to minimise faetal exposure to tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs should continue
• Recommendations of the Strategic Task Force on Alcohol should be implemented