Page 36 - Zero for nine: Reducing alcohol use during pregnancy via health counselling and Internet-based computer-tailored feedback

Chapter 2
One study which examined partner norm demonstrated that partners consented to prenatal alcohol use more often than pregnant women (van der Wulp, Hoving, & de Vries, 2013). Research focusing on partner modeling demonstrated that a partner’s alcohol use is positively associated with prenatal alcohol use (Bakhireva, et al., 2011; Chang, et al., 2011; Waterson, Evans, & Murray-Lyon, 1990). Finally, with regard to partner support, Chang and colleagues (2005) demonstrated that a brief intervention to reduce prenatal alcohol use is more effective when a partner chosen by the pregnant woman participated in the intervention and explicitly stated how he or she could support the pregnant woman in abstaining from prenatal alcohol use.
Although previous studies have yielded important information about the correlates of prenatal alcohol use, questions regarding a partner’s influence on prenatal alcohol use in women remain. Thus far, no study has simultaneously investigated partner norm, modeling and support, in addition to the previously reported maternal characteristics. Moreover, most studies rely on the perception of the pregnant woman in assessing her partner’s influence, although the woman’s perception may differ from her partner’s view. Finally, this study seeks to determine the relative impact of a partner’s influence as perceived by the pregnant woman versus as reported by the partner in order to understand whether perceived and reported partner influence should be included in interventions targeting prenatal alcohol use.
By identifying important correlates of prenatal alcohol use, this study strives to assist in the development of effective interventions to reduce prenatal alcohol use and improve children’s health. This study used the Integrated Model for Motivational and Behavioral Change (I-Change Model; De Vries, et al., 2003) as the theoretical framework. This model posits that a person’s behavior is the result of intentions and abilities as determined by motivational factors such as attitudes, social influences (De Vries, et al., 1994) and self-efficacy (Bandura, et al., 1988; De Vries, Dijkstra, & Kuhlman, 1988). The motivational factors are in turn determined by various predisposing factors (e.g. demographics and pregnancy characteristics), information factors (e.g. messages and sources) and awareness factors (e.g. knowledge and risk perceptions).
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