It's a woman's world - fathers' participation in smoking and drinking reduction in pregnancy

Abstract

THIS paper uses an interview survey of twelve pro spective fathers to describe some of the current issues involved in encouraging fathers to help their partners to reduce smoking and drinking during pregnancy. Paternal knowledge about adverse influ ences on the fetus was vague and varied. Although half of the fathers reduced their drinking during the pregnancy, only three did so out of support for their partners. The other six fathers increased their intake. Reactions to women who did not reduce their smok ing and alcohol intake in pregnancy and general per ceptions of health education suggest a need for clear information on this topic set within a health pro motion framework.