Study Finds 28 Percent of Australian Women Consume Alcohol During Pregnancy
The survey of 21,000 people revealed that 77 percent of Australians had consumed alcohol in the past year.
A new national drug strategy household survey found that more than one in four women in Australia drink alcohol while pregnant.
In the 12 months leading up to the study, 28 percent of women who had been pregnant admitted to drinking alcohol while pregnant, according to a 2022 to 2023 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) pdf study of 21,000 Australians.
Despite this high number, the study also noted a long-term decrease in alcohol consumption during pregnancy. In 2013, 42 percent of Australian women were reported to drink alcohol while pregnant.
Furthermore, the survey found that almost two in three Australians, or 64 percent, consumed alcohol without realizing they were pregnant.
Once aware of their pregnancy, women were less likely to consume alcohol, with only 14.9 percent admitting to still drinking.
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The study also highlighted the adverse effects of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs on unborn children, such as lower birth weights, miscarriage, and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
According to the authors, alcohol, nicotine, and illicit drugs can pass into breastmilk, posing risks to babies during breastfeeding.
“To prevent harm to their unborn child, pregnant or planning women should avoid alcohol consumption,” AIHW emphasized.
“For breastfeeding women, abstaining from alcohol is the safest option for their baby.”
The survey also assessed public awareness regarding the dangers of drinking alcohol during pregnancy. Researchers discovered that 87 percent of respondents agreed that pregnant women should refrain from alcohol, with only 5.6 percent opposing this view.
Furthermore, 80 percent believed that women trying to conceive should stop drinking alcohol, although 13.2 percent were uncertain.
Approximately 12.7 percent of individuals thought that consuming small amounts of alcohol occasionally during pregnancy would not harm the baby.
77 percent of Australians Drank Alcohol in the Past Year
The study also revealed that 77 percent of Australians had consumed alcohol in the previous year. Additionally, 31 percent engaged in risky drinking behavior in 2022 and 2023.
This percentage was similar to the 2019 findings, where 32 percent of Australians were identified as risky drinkers.
Risky drinking was defined as consuming more than four drinks per day once a month or exceeding 10 standard drinks per week.
Men were more likely to engage in risky drinking compared to women, with 39 percent of men and 23 percent of women drinking at risky levels.
The rate of risky drinking in men decreased from 50 percent in 2007, while in women, it declined from 27 percent in 2007 to 23 percent in 2022 and 2023.
“Historically, alcohol and drug use has been higher in males than females, but this gap is narrowing, especially among young Australians aged 18 to 24,” commented the authors.
Alcohol is the most commonly used drug in Australia, with its consumption, along with e-cigarettes and illicit drugs like cocaine, rising among young women.
