There were very few factors that reduced the likelihood of women drinking in pregnancy. One key protective factor was the woman’s interpretation of how she is affected by alcohol; women who reported experiencing the effects ‘quickly’ or ‘very quickly’ were less likely to drink in pregnancy. Greater awareness of individual variation in alcohol metabolism could be incorporated into messages, suggesting that regular drinkers who feel alcohol effects ‘normally’, may need to increase their vigilance in regards to contraception and pregnancy planning.
