Ireland's Family Life Studied

Findings from a large-scale study involving the monitoring up almost 20,000 children that has been underway for several years has marked an important milestone in shaping future Government policy.

Analysis of the data and the use of the findings from the Study are "key to ensuring its continuation", said the Dáil Children's Minister Barry Andrews who this week spoke on the major scientific study entitled 'Growing up in Ireland'.

The Government-funded study was described by Minister Andrews as "one of the most significant pieces of research ever to be undertaken into Irish children".

Among the conclusions was that women are more likely to drink during pregnancy if they are better educated and conversely that expectant mothers are significantly more likely to smoke during pregnancy if they have fewer qualifications.

During the long-running study, researchers from Trinity College Dublin and the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) tracked the lives of 11,100 nine-month-old infants and their families for part of the study.

One of the authors, Professor James Williams of the ESRI, suggested uncertainty about the effects of moderate drinking was behind the higher incidence of better-educated women taking alcohol during pregnancy.

"The debate around drinking and pregnancy is much more ambiguous, much less certain than around smoking," he said.

Also commenting, Minister for Children Barry Andrews said the figures gave cause for concern and could prompt renewed campaigns on the dangers associated with drinking and smoking during pregnancy.

"The incidence of it is clearly a concern as it arises from this report. It has to inform policy, so it might be a case of simply more of the same (campaigns)," he commented.

(BMcC/GK)