Stigma and self-stigma among women within the context of the german "zero alcohol during pregnancy" recommendation: A qualitative analysis of online forums and blogs.

Background: In many countries, including Germany, it is recommended to abstain from alcohol during pregnancy to avoid harm to the baby. In this qualitative research study, analysis of online forums was conducted to explore women's perception of the German "zero alcohol during pregnancy" recommendation with regard to stigma and self-stigma.

Methods: We used a grounded theory approach to analyze online forum discussions on alcohol use during pregnancy.