Dietary, alcohol, and tobacco intake among Mexican-American women of childbearing age: results from HANES data.
OBJECTIVE
Dietary intake and substance abuse are important predictors of pregnancy outcome yet little is known about these behaviors in Mexican Americans.  Dietary, tobacco, and alcohol intake of Mexican-American and non-Hispanic white women were compared across the reproductive cycle.


METHODS
Four cross-sectional groups--interconceptional, pregnant, lactating, and postpartum non-lactating--were compared within and between ethnic groups.


METHODS
A stratified sample of 682 women, 16 to 44 years old, of Mexican birth or origin from the Hispanic HANES was contrasted with a similarly stratified sample of 1,396 white non-Hispanic women from the NHANES:


METHODS
Demographic, behavioral and health characteristics, food practices, and fluid intake were examined.  Data on food servings were combined into five major food groups.


RESULTS
Compared with white non-Hispanics, Mexican-American women had lower socioeconomic status and worse perceived health.  However, Mexican Americans reported lower consumption of tobacco, alcohol, diet soda, and caffeine, particularly during pregnancy and lactation.  Although portion sizes for the foods consumed were not assessed, frequency of consumption of fruits and vegetables and milk was lower and meat higher among Mexican Americans.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite socioeconomic disadvantages, Mexican-American women have better health habits than white non-Hispanic women.  From these data it is unclear how diet affects pregnancy outcomes in Mexican Americans.
Maternal and Child Health Program, University of California at Berkeley,  94720.
S
S
Guendelman
B
B
Abrams
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000208:ethnology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004326:Drinking; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D017058:Mexican Americans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012907:Smoking / Q000208:ethnology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors