Academic Journal
Alcohol use during pregnancy and public awareness of harms: findings from the CAMH Monitor Survey, Ontario, Canada.
| Title: | Alcohol use during pregnancy and public awareness of harms: findings from the CAMH Monitor Survey, Ontario, Canada. |
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| Authors: | Dozet D; Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 2S1, Canada.; The Margaret and Wallace McCain Centre for Child, Youth, & Family Mental Health, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 80 Workman Way, Toronto, Ontario, M6J 1H4, Canada.; Institute of Medical Science University of Toronto, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Medical Sciences Building, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada., Ialomiteanu AR; Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 2S1, Canada., Hamilton HA; Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 2S1, Canada.; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada., Popova S; Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 2S1, Canada.; Institute of Medical Science University of Toronto, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Medical Sciences Building, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada.; Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, 246 Bloor Street W, Toronto, ON M5S 1V4, Canada. |
| Source: | Alcohol and alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire) [Alcohol Alcohol] 2026 May 13; Vol. 61 (4). |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: Oxford University Press Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 8310684 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1464-3502 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 07350414 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Alcohol Alcohol Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Publication: <2003- > : Oxford : Oxford University Press Original Publication: Oxford ; New York : Pergamon Press, c1983- |
| MeSH Terms: | Alcohol Drinking*/epidemiology , Alcohol Drinking*/adverse effects , Alcohol Drinking*/psychology , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*, Ontario/epidemiology ; Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders/epidemiology ; Humans ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Aged ; Surveys and Questionnaires |
| Abstract: | Background and Aims: Alcohol use during pregnancy and breastfeeding can have adverse consequences for child development, including fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). This study investigated the prevalence of alcohol use during pregnancy and breastfeeding and its associations with current substance use behaviors and beliefs about the safety of alcohol use in pregnancy. Methods: This cross-sectional study used pooled data from the 2018-2020 CAMH Monitor Survey, a population-based survey of adults in Ontario (N = 5957). Descriptive analyses and multivariable logistic regression were conducted to examine associations between maternal alcohol use and sociodemographic characteristics, substance use, and beliefs. Results: Of parous women (n = 1512; mean age: 65 years), 14.7% reported drinking alcohol during their most recent pregnancy (30 years prior, on average) and 17.8% while breastfeeding. Alcohol use during pregnancy was associated with lifetime substance use, current tobacco and alcohol use, and misconceptions about alcohol use in pregnancy. Gender differences emerged in beliefs: while awareness of FASD was relatively high among both women (87.2%) and men (80.6%), men were more likely than women to hold inaccurate beliefs, including that small amounts or certain types of alcohol may be safe during pregnancy. Men and women who were current drinkers of alcohol were significantly more likely to endorse these misconceptions. Conclusions: Public health messaging and maternal alcohol use prevention strategies must address persistent misconceptions about alcohol use in pregnancy and engage not only women and expectant mothers, but also men, partners, and broader social networks. Interventions should integrate education, universal screening, and trauma-informed care. (© The Author(s) 2026. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Medical Council on Alcohol and Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.) |
| Grant Information: | 1718-HQ-000774 Public Health Agency of Canada |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD); alcohol use in pregnancy; health beliefs; maternal health; public health; substance use |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260513 Date Completed: 20260716 Latest Revision: 20260717 |
| Update Code: | 20260717 |
| DOI: | 10.1093/alcalc/agag029 |
| PMID: | 42127980 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 1464-3502 |
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| DOI: | 10.1093/alcalc/agag029 |