Our Research

The Survey of Health Professionals in Western Australia was published in 2005, as part of the Research Study of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in Australia, a national collaboration between the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research and the Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit. The Survey was funded by Healthway.

The Survey of Health Professionals in Western Australia found that most health professionals do not enquire about or provide women with information on the consequences of alcohol use during pregnancy, and most reported their need for resources such as written material for themselves and for distribution to clients. This result demonstrates the importance of raising awareness of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and alcohol consumption in pregnancy and providing readily accessible information for health professionals to help increase their knowledge and preparedness to deal with, and prevent FASD.

The Alcohol and Pregnancy Project builds on the results from the Survey of Health Professionals in Western Australia.

Consultation with the community and health professionals and the collection of information and materials about alcohol use in pregnancy are key components of the Alcohol and Pregnancy Project. An Aboriginal Community Reference Group and a Consumer and Community Reference Group meet every three months which provides valuable input and perspective in several areas of the project.

To inform the development of resources, qualitative data have been collected from a range of health professionals and women in the Perth metropolitan area, the Kimberley and the Goldfield areas of WA. The interviews and focus groups explored the experiences of health professionals in communicating about alcohol use in pregnancy and its effects, and provided insight into what information and materials may support health professionals’ knowledge and advice. The project also explored issues relating to the communication on alcohol use during pregnancy and its effects on the unborn child by speaking with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal women.

The findings from these interviews and focus groups have informed the production of evidence-based health promotion material for health professionals and for health professionals to give to women to supplement their advice.

The Alcohol and Pregnancy: Health Professionals Making a Difference resources were disseminated to health professionals throughout WA early in 2007.

>> Click here for our list of publications