A dangerous lack of understanding.

In the past, inadequate information on the effects of maternal alcohol consumption on the fetus meant that not enough emphasis was placed on this topic in prenatal and preconceptual teaching. Today, fetal alcohol syndrome is a widely accepted diagnosis in the medical community. Health professionals now stress the importance of abstinence from alcohol during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester. Unfortunately, a surprising number of adults have but a meagre knowledge of the risks. This dangerous lack of understanding represents a failure in health promotion.