Do attitudes and knowledge predict at-risk drinking among Russian women?

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Reproductive Health
• Alcohol Research

Background:

• Drinking patterns among Russian women pose a significant risk for alcohol-exposed pregnancies.
• Limited data exist on women's knowledge and attitudes regarding alcohol consumption during pregnancy and its impact on their drinking behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess Russian women's knowledge and attitudes concerning alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
• To determine the association between women's knowledge/attitudes and their engagement in risky drinking behaviors.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 648 women of childbearing age.
• Participants were recruited from women's health clinics.
• Data collected included alcohol consumption, pregnancy status, attitudes, and knowledge of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS).

Main Results:

• 40% of women found alcohol consumption during pregnancy acceptable or were uncertain.
• Only 8% had accurate knowledge of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), despite 34% having heard of it.
• Correct knowledge correlated with reduced alcohol use in pregnant women, but not in non-pregnant women. However, attitudes strongly influenced risky drinking in non-pregnant women.

Conclusions:

• Russian women exhibit poor knowledge and misconceptions regarding alcohol's effects on fetal development.
• Risky alcohol consumption is significantly linked to women's attitudes and knowledge levels.
• Public health education targeting misconceptions and the preconceptional period is crucial to reduce at-risk drinking and alcohol-exposed pregnancies.