Knowledge of gestational alcohol drinking risks: results from a survey among Italian secondary school students.

INTRODUCTION: Ethanol is the most widely used drug worldwide. Its consumption has been increasing, and it is reported even during childbearing. Prenatal exposure to ethanol can lead to irreversible damages of the fetus. Knowledge about this risk could prevent these damages. There is no information about knowledge of the Italian students on this issue. METHODS: Therefore the aim of this study was to describe the awareness of the Italian students attending the last year of secondary school about risk of gestational alcohol drinking for the delivering mother and the fetus. An online multiple-choice anonymous survey for students was used and e-mailed to the all Italian secondary schools. RESULTS: The respondents were 9.921 and the obtained results evidenced that that young females are more informed than males, and students in Northern and Central Italy are better informed than those in the South, especially on general aspects. The most of respondents knows that alcohol consumption during pregnancy can damage the fetus. However, many youngsters failed to translate this belief into the practice. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, interventions are needed to enhance knowledge and prevent these damages, and health professionals, with nurses in the first row are entitled to provide education on this topic.

[Survey of secondary school students 18 years old or older about knowledge on risks to the fetus related to alcohol consumption during pregnancy]. / Indagine tra gli studenti maggiorenni sulle conoscenze sui rischi per il feto legati al consumo di sostanze alcoliche in gravidanza.

INTRODUCTION:  Being not perceived as risky for health, alcohol consumption is socially accepted worldwide. Nevertheless, related risks for the fetus are relevant, even for occasional use. In Italy there is a high consumption of alcohol among young people and pregnant women, and an increasing number of children born with alcohol-related disorders. AIM: To investigate the knowledge on fetal alcohol-related disorders among students over 18 years of age in a regional capital in the North of Italy. METHODS: In May, 2015, a survey with an online, validated questionnaire was conducted on N=1321 students. RESULTS:  A total of N=246 valid questionnaires was obtained (18,6%). The 76,4% of students knew that drinking alcohol during pregnancy damages fetus, but only the 23,5% knew that this damages are permanent. Only the 43,5% knew that this damages are preventable; of them, the 77,6% stated that the only way to prevent them is abstention from alcohol consumption, though 30,1% answered that alcohol use is allowed without damage the fetus. Only the 17,5% answered to know Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. CONCLUSION:  The study showed satisfying knowledge on general aspects, but scarce on specific ones, and a limited awareness that only complete abstinence from alcohol when pregnant can prevent irreversible damages of the fetus. This results could help to program educational interventions for teenagers, carried out by nurses, pediatric nurses and other health professionals to increase their knowledge and prevent in utero exposure. Future studies could be aimed at identifying the most effective educational methods to do so.