title: "If you can have one glass of wine now and then, why are you denying that to a woman with no evidence": Knowledge and practices of health professionals concerning alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alcohol consumption during pregnancy has the potential to cause significant harm to the foetus and the current Australian guidelines state that it is safest not to drink alcohol while pregnant. However, conflicting messages often appear in the media and it is unclear if the message to avoid alcohol is being effectively conveyed to pregnant women.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This research aims to explore the advice that health professionals provide to pregnant women about alcohol consumption; the knowledge of health professionals regarding the effects of alcohol consumption; and their consistency with following the Australian guidelines.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten semi-structured face to face interviews were conducted with health professionals who regularly provide antenatal care. These include midwives, obstetricians, and shared care general practitioners. A six-stage thematic analysis framework was used to analyse the interview data in a systematic way to ensure rigour and transparency. The analysis involved coding data extracts, followed by identifying the major themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Health professionals displayed adequate knowledge that alcohol can cause physical and mental difficulties that are lifelong; however, knowledge of the term FASD and the broad spectrum of difficulties associated with alcohol consumption during pregnancy was limited. Although health professionals were willing to discuss alcohol with pregnant women, many did not make this a routine part of practice, and several concerning judgements were noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Communication between health professionals and pregnant women needs to be improved to ensure that accurate information about alcohol use in pregnancy is being provided. Further, it is important to ensure that the national guidelines are being supported by health professionals.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of South Australia, Frome Road, Adelaide, SA, Australia. Electronic address: crafm002@mymail.unisa.edu.au.
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Crawford-Williams
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of South Australia, Frome Road, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Steen
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of South Australia, Frome Road, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esterman
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of South Australia, Frome Road, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fielder
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of South Australia, Frome Road, Adelaide, SA, Australia; Department of Health Sciences, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Antonina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mikocka-Walus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001315:Australia; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology*; D011295:Prenatal Care; D064186:Prenatal Education / Q000379:methods*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D014920:Wine
keywords: Alcohol drinking; Foetal alcohol spectrum disorders; Health promotion; Pregnancy; Prenatal education