Perspectives and experiences on alcohol consumption during pregnancy: a qualitative study with pregnant women from

Abstract

Perspectives and experiences on alcohol consumption during pregnancy: a qualitative study with pregnant women from Spain, France and Portugal

This work aims to explore perspectives and experiences of Spanish, French and Portuguese pregnant women regarding alcohol use during pregnancy. It is a qualitative study based on a phenomenological approach. It included 68 interviews and a semi-inductive data analysis using the QSR-NVIVO software. Results show similarities in the three countries in terms of the participants’ consumption and limited and/or wrong information about consequences of prenatal exposure. Differences are also identified, including the type of drinks, social pressure or knowledge regarding recommendations about alcohol use during pregnancy. This work points to the need for effective preventive approaches that can support pregnant women in informed decision-making.