SIGN 156: Children and Young People Exposed Prenatally to Alcohol. A National Clinical Guideline

Citation

Parkes T (2019) SIGN 156: Children and Young People Exposed Prenatally to Alcohol. A National Clinical Guideline. SIGN. Edinburgh. https://www.sign.ac.uk/media/1092/sign156.pdf

Abstract
First paragraph: In Scotland, alcohol consumption in women of childbearing age is common and is recognised as a significant public health issue. While surveys show a pattern of decline in self-reported alcohol consumption in Scotland, the majority of women still drink some alcohol. This proportion has decreased from 87% in 2003 to 82% in 2017 with the abstinence rate among women aged 16–34 years being 18%, falling to 13% in 35–44 year olds. Women in the least deprived areas are most likely to drink and those in most deprived areas are least likely to drink at all, but those living in deprivation who do drink are more likely to drink heavily. Alcohol consumption in women of childbearing age reflects the consumption across the population and the whole population approach adopted by the Scottish Government, informed by World Health Organization guidance, is designed to reduce general consumption