Racial disparities in pregnancy-related drinking reduction.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the likelihood that women of different racial and ethnic groups would reduce their alcohol consumption during pregnancy.


METHODS
Data came from 22 states participating in the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System from 2001 to 2005. After stratifying the sample by preconception drinking level, logistic regressions were used to predict drinking reduction and cessation by the third trimester by race, controlling for age, education, marital status, Medicaid status, pregnancy intention, smoking status, and state.


RESULTS
Overall, Black, Asian/Pacific Islander and Hispanic women were all significantly less likely than White women to reduce their heavy drinking after becoming pregnant. American Indian/Alaskan Native women who were moderate drinkers before conception were over 2 times more likely than White women to reduce drinking after becoming pregnant (OR 2.19, CI 0.71, 6.76), although this difference was non-significant (P = .17). Among those who binge drank in the months before pregnancy, compared to White women, Black (OR 0.26, CI 0.17-0.39), Hispanic (OR 0.19, CI 0.12-0.29), American Indian/Alaskan Native (OR 0.44 CI 0.20, 0.96), and Asian/Pacific Islander women (OR 0.11, CI 0.06-0.22) were all less likely to quit binge drinking while pregnant.


CONCLUSIONS
Significant racial differences in pregnancy-related drinking reduction are evident, and may help explain racial disparities in FAS. Results suggest that more targeted efforts are needed to meet the national goals of preventing alcohol-exposed pregnancies.
Tenkku
Leigh E
LE
Department of Community and Family Medicine, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA. tenkku@slu.edu
Morris
Daniel S
DS
Salas
Joanne
J
Xaverius
Pamela K
PK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D016015:Logistic Models; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D049168:Pregnancy, Unplanned; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012907:Smoking; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
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