The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #60896

Memi Miscally, MPH¹, Rebecca M. Buchanan, PhD¹, Scott Crosse, PhD¹, Gwyndolyn Ensley, MEd², and Giovonna Miller, MPH¹. (1) Partnership to Prevent Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Westat, 1650 Research Blvd., RA1491, Rockville, MD 20850, 240-453-2682, memimiscally@westat.com, (2) Partnership to Prevent Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, 5600 Fishers Ln., RWII, Rm. 800, Rockville, MD 20857

In July 2001, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) established the Partnership to Prevent Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. This community-based, public health education program aims to reduce the occurrence of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD). Specifically, the Partnership encourages preconceptional and pregnant women to abstain from alcohol consumption, and it also encourages significant others, including fathers of the babies and women’s family members and friends, to encourage women to abstain from alcohol. The proposed presentation will help providers, who may work in health care, social and human services, and primary prevention settings, better understand how to facilitate the role of significant others by providing new information gained from focus group research with this often overlooked and understudied audience. Focus group participants stressed the importance of their role as social supporters for the pregnant woman and her practicing healthy behaviors. Despite their expressed intentions, participants identified several barriers that might discourage them from supporting women in their efforts to abstain from alcohol. These barriers include a potential lack of attentiveness to issues related to drinking during pregnancy, knowledge gaps, misperceptions, and a lack of perceived self-efficacy in being able to provide social support. Providers who interface with women and significant others may find openings to address these issues, either with both audiences together or with significant others separately, and this presentation proposes action steps for providers to follow.

Learning Objectives:

• Articulate at least three reasons why preconceptional and pregnant women's significant others should be empowered to support them in abstaining from alcohol.
• List at least five factors that influence significant others' decisions to become involved and support preconceptional and pregnant women in their efforts to abstain from alcohol.
• Identify at least two ways for providers to help empower significant others to support preconceptional and pregnant women in their efforts to abstain from alcohol.

Keywords: Alcohol Use, Public Health Education and Health Promotion

Related Web page: prevention.samhsa.gov/faspartners/

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Dept. of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Center for Substance Abuse Prevention
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: contractor

Handout (.ppt format, 673.5 kb)