Perinatal drug use among immigrant and native-born Latinas.
Perinatal drug exposures pose a significant health hazard for women and imperil normal fetal and neonatal development. Little is known about patterns of drug exposure among pregnant immigrant and native-born Latinas in the United States. We present multivariate risk factor analyses for alcohol and illicit drug use from the California Perinatal Substance Exposure Study using a statistical probability sample (N = 11,002) of Latinas who were tested anonymously using urine toxicology screening techniques. Alcohol use during pregnancy was pervasive among both immigrant and United States-born Latinas (7%) with little variation on risk factors. Illicit drug use was found primarily in a high risk group of United States-born Latinas between 25 and 34 years of age who received no prenatal care (prevalence 50%, odds ratio of 185). Increased general awareness of perinatal alcohol risk by medical providers and public health practitioners serving this population is needed. The potential isolation of United States-born Latinas who are at risk using illicit drugs during pregnancy requires effective communication and outreach.
Vega
W A
WA
University of California, Berkeley, USA.
Kolody
B
B
Hwang
J
J
Noble
A
A
Porter
P A
PA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D015233:Models, Statistical; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*
D013287:Illicit Drugs