KTVA 11 News – by Lauren Maxwell
ANCHORAGE – A state-funded study is underway to see if Alaskan women will stop drinking if they find out they are pregnant.
The study is targeting Alaska’s high rates of fetal alcohol syndrome, with a goal of bringing awareness about the problem.
The Alaska Legislature approved the two-year, $400,000 study to place free pregnancy tests in 20 bars across the state. In Anchorage, the Peanut Farm Bar and Grill has the first pregnancy test dispenser hanging in the ladies’ room.
Manger Pam Boehner said, at first, customers seemed a little wary of the idea.
“To tell the truth, people laughed at first, but then they are like, ‘That’s a pretty good idea,’” said Boehner.
Janet Johnston with The University of Alaska Anchorage’s Institute for Circumpolar Health Studies says as the best idea for any woman is not to drink while pregnant, “we want people to know whether they are pregnant so then they can decide what to do.”
But whether patrons will take a pregnancy test in a public restroom is just one question researchers want answered, says UAA researcher David Driscoll.
“The point of the overarching project is to evaluate whether or not placing these messages on pregnancy test dispensers is more effective than having those same messages in framed posters,” said Driscoll.
In addition to colorful messages warning about the dangers of drinking during pregnancy, the dispenser also has a place where people can shoot a QR code with their phone, take a survey online and get a $15 I-Tunes card.
Researchers hope that will provide the data they need to determine whether the pregnancy test dispensers are an effective way to prevent women from drinking during pregnancy. They plan to collect the data for a year, then take another year to analyze it before reporting the results to the Legislature.
http://www.ktva.com/free-pregnancy-tests-available-in-bars-around-alaska-280/