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Social support and prenatal alcohol use
Tay K McNamara1, E John Orav, Louise Wilkins-Haug
1Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Journal of Women'S Health (2002)
|January 19, 2006
Summary
Social support during pregnancy did not predict alcohol use or birth weight. Previous drinking habits were the strongest predictor of prenatal alcohol consumption, highlighting the need for early screening.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Maternal Health
- Public Health
Background:
- Pregnancy social support may influence prenatal alcohol consumption.
- Investigated social support in 200 pregnant women with prenatal alcohol use indicators (T-ACE score ≥ 2).
Purpose of the Study:
- Evaluate the extent, predictors, and consequences of social support.
- Assess the relationship between social support and prenatal alcohol use.
- Examine the impact of social support on newborn birth weight.
Main Methods:
- Pregnant women and their partners completed the Maternal Social Support Index (MSSI).
- Partner's MSSI was modified for biological fathers.
- Compared maternal and paternal reports of social support.
Main Results:
- Maternal and paternal MSSI scores were similar, but agreement on daily task support was low to fair.
- Higher maternal social support was linked to marriage, higher education, and more prestigious employment than partner's.
- Social support did not predict subsequent prenatal alcohol use or newborn birth weight.
Conclusions:
- Previous drinking (pre-pregnancy and early pregnancy) was the most significant predictor of prenatal alcohol consumption.
- Findings underscore the critical importance of screening pregnant women for alcohol use.
- Social support's limited predictive role in this cohort warrants further investigation.