How Much Alcohol is Too Much - Research Paper Example

Introduction: How Much Alcohol is Too Much? At present, there is very little debate over the ill effects of alcohol on a fetus, especially when consumed early in the pregnancy. Fetal alcohol syndrome, a problem that has received world-wide attention, is caused by the consumption of alcohol on the fetus as it develops in the womb, which results in a myriad of physical and psychological problems, including stunted fetal growth and weight, brain damage, mood disorders and developmental disabilities, and unique facial features that indicate that the child has FAS. However, at present, there are few conclusive studies that correlate quantities of alcohol consumed and the height and size of a child, and the literature ranges in arguments from no size effects to noticeable affects into primary school. Therefore, Sampson, Bookstein, Barr & Streissguth aim to investigate the affect of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, at moderate levels, on the height and weight of a child, and whether this prenatal exposure will result in “enduring effects on the neurobehavioral development of the child through 14 years of age” (1994). Rationale: Looking at the Present Literature The article references twenty previous studies conducted on the link between alcohol consumption during pregnancy and growth deficiencies in the child. The vast majority of the literature has argued that alcohol is negatively related to a lowered birthweight, although each study indicated that this weight varied on a case-to-case basis, and was also affected by the combination of alcohol and cigarettes on the fetus. However, several of the studies contrasted these findings to suggest that they found no significant differences in birthweight when the fetus was exposed to alcohol (references 1-14, and 15-20 respectively). Of greater interest to Sampson et al. are the previous studies on head circumference of children exposed to alcohol pre-natal. Most significantly, Russell et al. “found height and head circumference effects at 6 years”, which does support the argument that alcohol consumption does affect the child’s physical development; however, “the amount of apparent neonatal growth deficiency does not correlate with or predict later neurobehavioral consequences of the prenatal exposure” (Sampson et al., 1994). The article endeavors to add to the literature on alcohol consumption and birth deficiencies by researching the duration of time when noticeable differences in weight and height can be seen in children, until the age of 14 years. Methods: During Pregnancy and 14-Year Follow-up The research was based on the Seattle Longitudinal Prospective Study on Alcohol and Pregnancy, which begin in 1974; 1529 women were interviewed at the mid-point in their pregnancy, in which questions about their smoking, drinking, and drug use were asked. From this sample of women, approximately 500 children were selected as follow-up, which included children from mothers who ranged from heavy drinkers and smokers to abstainers of both. The study ensured that a wide range of women, at all levels, were considered and included. The majority of pregnant women interviewed were White, married, and middle class. At different ages, the children were examined, first in early childhood, then at 4-years-old, 7-years-old, and finally, 14-years-old. During this period, 18 percent of the 500 children moved and were not part of the final stages of the testing (Sampson et al, 1994). The interview questions given to the mothers discussed their lifestyle habits, including drinking, smoking, drug-use, and dietary intake, as well as the level at which each was consumed prior to pregnancy and during the pregnancy. In regards to alcohol consumption, the following questions were taken into consideration: average ounces of absolute alcohol per day; binge drinking, monthly occasions of drinking, etc. Results: Teratological or Sociological? The study included an over-representation of women considering themselves to be heavy drinkers; however, the findings show that a noticeable birthweight deficiency for these babies was rare. Where Day et al. found an 11% incidence of lower birthweight for exposed babies of low-socioeconomic mothers; Sampson et al. found only a 2.1% incidence for exposed babies of middle-class mothers. Also, this difference in birthweight disappears after the 8-month mark, except for children of mothers who consumed the highest amounts of pure alcohol in ounces per day. In addition, differences in the circumference of the child’s head were minimal and most noticeable in mothers who were more frequently involved in binge drinking. However, surprisingly, in terms of birthweight, “the offspring of abstainers are slightly lighter in mean weight than the most highly exposed cases at all later ages. We suspect that this effect it not teratological but sociological” (Sampson et al., 1994). Discussion: Alcohol Exposure as only One Factor Affecting Birthweight Sampson et al.’s conclusions on the correlation between alcohol exposure and birthweight mirror the conclusions of Greene et al.; however, Sampson et al. chose to focus on a single-regression method, rather than multiple-regression methods that investigate the inclusion of additional factors in the prenatal stage on birthweight and size. In addition, long-term variances in size and weight are also affected by numerous environmental factors that go beyond prenatal alcohol exposure. However, the question of why “many persons with fetal alcohol syndrome or fetal alcohol effects end up as unusually small adults,” is still unaccounted for by the findings in the study (Sampson et al., 1994). The findings do suggest the following: as minimal differences in bodyweight decline and, virtually, disappear, after the 8 month point, the current argument that prenatal alcohol exposure results in size deficiencies may be over exaggerated. In addition, discrepancies in birthweight cannot be explained solely by the amount or frequency of alcohol consumption during pregnancy; it must also take other factors into account, such as nicotine and drug use, race, maternal age, and socio-economic status. Critical Discussion: Additional Factors Contributing to Low Bodyweight In conclusion, policy debates on FAS have focused on the size and weight, rather than on the cognitive or neurobehavioral development of the child. This has resulted in taking focus away from the classroom, which needs to be trained in how to effectively and efficiently deal with the learning and behavioral needs of FAS children. In addition, the fact that Day et al. found such a high prevalence of bodyweight deficiency among children of low socio-economic mothers should highlight the need for public policy to address the role of diet, rather than the role of alcohol, on pre-and post-natal development. Although it is common knowledge that alcohol and nicotine consumption during pregnancy is harmful to the fetus, it is equally common sense knowledge that a diet lacking essential nutrients will also cause significant damage to both mother and child. Therefore, researchers and advocates should focus more on providing pregnant women of lower socio-economic backgrounds with the necessary funds (or food stamps) to ensure that they are receiving an adequate diet to ensure the normal bodyweight and size of their baby through their formative development years. References Sampson, P.D., Bookstein, F.L., Barr, H.M., & Streissguth, A.P. (1994). Prenatal alcohol exposure, birthweight, and measure of child size from birth to age 14 years. American Journal of Public Health, 84(9), 1421-1428. Read More