title: Alcohol consumption during pregnancy: cross-sectional survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to assess the prevalence and pattern of alcohol consumption pre-conception and/or during the first trimester using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test - Consumption (AUDIT-C) and T-ACE (Tolerance, Annoyance, Cut Down and Eye-Opener) alcohol screening questionnaires, and determine the socio-demographic predictors of drinking in this time period.
  
  
  METHODS
  cross sectional survey of a consecutive sample of 500 pregnant women attending their first antenatal appointment at approximately 10-11 weeks gestation.
  
  
  METHODS
  two antenatal clinics in the South West of England.
  
  
  RESULTS
  of the 409 women respondents, we found a quarter of women reported drinking alcohol despite being aware they are pregnant. Between two to three in every 100 women reported drinking six or more units on a single occasion (heavy episodic or 'binge' drinking) at least monthly or weekly in the past three months. A similar proportion reported exceeding the recommended drinking limits of one to two units, once or twice a week. The majority of heavy episodic drinkers were otherwise low risk drinkers. 5.4% of respondents had an AUDIT-C score of 3 or more, and 22.2% a T-ACE score of 2 or more, indicating risk drinking in the peri-conception period. Drinking pre-conception and/or during the first trimester was more likely if women were multiparous and of white ethnicity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  in this study pregnant women attending an antenatal appointment were willing to complete brief alcohol screening questionnaires. A minority of women reported drinking pre-conception and/or during the first trimester with a small percentage drinking at levels potentially harmful to the fetus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  use of these questionnaires would help midwives gather information about alcohol use to help identify women drinking at levels in excess of recommended limits in order that appropriate advice and support be offered.
authors.affiliation: Women׳s Maternal and Public Health, Oxford Brookes University, UK. Electronic address: lesleysmith@brookes.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: inVentiv Health Clinical, UK. Electronic address: jack.savory@inventivhealth.com.
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Savory
authors.affiliation: Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, UK. Electronic address: jackiecouves@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Jackie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Couves
authors.affiliation: Oxford Brookes University, UK. Electronic address: eburns@brookes.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Ethel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Burns
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000187:drug effects / Q000523:psychology; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology*; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol
keywords: Alcohol; Antenatal; Pregnancy; Questionnaires; Screening