Alcohol and pregnancy: doctors' attitudes, knowledge and clinical practice.

Objective: This study was undertaken to gain an understanding about doctors' perspectives on alcohol consumption in pregnancy. The specific aim was to examine attitudes, knowledge and clinical practice of a sample of New Zealand doctors.

Methods: A questionnaire was sent to all paediatricians, all obstetricians and a random sample of general practitioners throughout New Zealand.

Results: All respondents felt there should be a limit on alcohol consumption in pregnancy and 46% recommended abstinence. Doctors perceived public awareness of the risks of alcohol consumption in pregnancy to be poor and over 90% believed awareness needed to improve. Eighty-nine per cent of obstetricians and 84% of general practitioners reported they felt sufficiently knowledgeable to inform people of the risks of alcohol consumption in pregnancy. Fifty-nine per cent of obstetricians and 40% of general practitioners routinely enquire about alcohol consumption at the first antenatal contact (p < 0.003). Fifty three per cent of obstetricians and 48% of general practitioners routinely advise women about alcohol consumption at the first antenatal contact.

Conclusions: Doctors in New Zealand believe alcohol in pregnancy is an important health issue. Awareness of the risks of alcohol consumption in pregnancy is perceived as poor. Doctors' attitudes to alcohol consumption in pregnancy do not reflect their reported clinical practice.