This qualitative study of 61 Aboriginal women from Perth, the Goldfields and Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia, showed that although some participants had not heard of Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, they attributed some adverse birth outcomes and longer term outcomes to drinking alcohol in pregnancy.
Many of the participants revealed a negative attitude towards women drinking in pregnancy, but some supported that it was the individual's choice. Multiple reasons were identified to explain why some Aboriginal women drink in pregnancy, including stress, role-modelling, intergenerational effects of alcohol consumption in pregnancy and the partner's behaviour.
The participants identified several strategies to support Aboriginal women to refuse alcohol in pregnancy including education, counselling and addressing the partner's drinking behaviour. Women were supportive of health campaigns, labelling and signage, providing they included but did not focus on Aboriginal women.
Project lead:
Telethon Kids Institute
Contact:
Heather D'Antoine
heather.dantoine@menzies.edu.au
Project dates:
2007