Study of pregnant Irish women shows many still drink and smoke
14/04/2004 - 16:01:27New research has found that very high numbers of Irish women are smoking and drinking alcohol while pregnant.
The study by the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin finds that 44% of women have smoked during their current pregnancy and only 14% of smokers stopped when they became pregnant.
The figures for alcohol consumption are higher with 85% of those questioned saying they drank during pregnancy.
Dr Navid Khawaja, of the Royal College of Surgeons and the Rotunda Hospital, says the figures are alarmingly high. He described them as "astonishing".
