Stages of change and prenatal alcohol use.
This study evaluated stage of change as a predictor of alcohol use in a sample of 301 pregnant women who were either in the precontemplation (62%) or in the action (38%) stage of change in their first trimester. Stage of change distinguished between different patterns of alcohol consumption before and after pregnancy. Those in the precontemplation stage drank more per episode and more often before pregnancy than those in the action stage. The precontemplation group also had a significantly greater quantity of alcohol after pregnancy. However, stage of change did not directly predict subsequent prenatal alcohol use. Previous alcohol use, age, and education were the most significant predictors of prenatal drinks per drinking day. Temptation to drink alcohol was the best predictor of prenatal drinking frequency after study enrollment. Women in both stages of change reduced the quantity and the frequency of their alcohol consumption while pregnant and achieved comparable rates of abstinence.
Chang
Grace
G
Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA. gchang@partners.org
McNamara
Tay
T
Wilkins-Haug
Louise
L
Orav
E John
EJ
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors