Health Professionals Addressing Alcohol Use with Pregnant Women in Western Australia: Barriers and Strategies for Communication

The research collaboration includes the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Centre for Child Health Research, The University of Western Australia, Edith Cowan University, Curtin University of Technology, the University of Sydney, the Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit, Drug and Alcohol Office Western Australia, the Department of Health Western Australia, the Kulunga Research Network and the Wongutha Birni Aboriginal Corporation. We acknowledge aboriginal and non-aboriginal women who participated in focus groups and in-depth interviews to inform the development of the resources for health professionals. We also acknowledge the health professionals (aboriginal health workers, allied health professionals, nurses working in the community, general practitioners, obstetricians and pediatricians) who participated in focus groups and in-depth interviews to inform the development of the resources for health professionals, and those who responded to the evaluation questionnaire. We greatly appreciate the time given and perspectives expressed by the Western Australian health professionals who participated and also thank those who assisted in recruitment of participants. We also acknowledge and thank the Alcohol and Pregnancy Steering Committee: participating investigators (Lynda Blum, Roslyn Giglia, Janet Hammill, Ray James (dec'd), Christine Jeffries-Stokes, Anne Mahony, Daniel McAullay, Anne McKenzie, and Raewyn Mutch), members of the Alcohol and Pregnancy Project Team (Melinda Berinson, Heather Monteiro), representatives of the Kulunga Research Network (Rani Param, Jennine Pickett (dec'd), Peta Gooda), members of the Aboriginal Community Reference Group (Rhonda Cox, Lyn Dimer, Michael Doyle, Paula Edgill, Laura Elkin, Dot Henry, Gloria Khan, Josie Maxted, Michael Wright), members of the Community and Consumer Reference Group (Pip Brennan, Kiely O'Flaherty, Jess Braithwaite (Health Consumers' Council), Jocelyn Boylen, Julie Whitlock). Health professionals have an important role to play in preventing prenatal alcohol exposure. In 2006 qualitative data were collected from 53 health professionals working in primary care in metropolitan and regional Western Australia. Thematic analysis was used to elucidate barriers in addressing prenatal alcohol use and the strategies used to overcome them. Health professionals identified strategies for obtaining alcohol use information from pregnant women but they are not recognizing moderate alcohol intake in pregnant women. Study limitations are noted and the implications of the results are discussed. This research was funded by the Health Promotion Foundation of Western Australia.