title: Paternal drinking, intimate relationship quality, and alcohol consumption in pregnant Ukrainian women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) represent a significant public health problem. The influence of the male partner's alcohol consumption patterns and the quality of the partner's intimate relationship might be important factors to consider in the design of successful FASD prevention programs.
  
  
  METHODS
  As part of the Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, 166 pregnant women in two regions in Ukraine participated in an in-person interview at an average gestational age of 18-19 weeks. Subjects were classified cross-sectionally as abstainers/light drinkers (n = 80), defined as low or no consumption of alcohol in the periconceptional period and none in the most recent 2 weeks of pregnancy; discontinuers (n = 43), defined as moderate to heavy alcohol use in the periconceptional period but none during the most recent 2 weeks of pregnancy; or continuing drinkers (n = 43), defined as continued moderate to heavy alcohol use within the most recent 2 weeks of pregnancy. Women also reported on their partner's drinking behavior and on the quality of their intimate relationship.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Heavy paternal drinking was significantly associated with both continuing maternal drinking in the most recent 2 weeks (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 34.1; 95% CI [5.9, 195.8]) and being a risky drinker only around conception (adjusted OR = 27.0; 95% CI [5.0, 147.7]). In addition, women who consumed alcohol during pregnancy had lower mean scores for satisfaction with partners' relationship and ability to discuss problems (p < .05) compared with light drinkers/abstainers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that development of partner-based interventions, as opposed to those solely focused on maternal drinking, might be warranted as a strategy to prevent FASD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92093, USA.
authors.forename: Ludmila N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Bakhireva
authors.forename: Sharon C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Wilsnack
authors.forename: Arlinda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kristjanson
authors.forename: Lyubov
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yevtushok
authors.forename: Svetlana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Onishenko
authors.forename: Wladimir
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wertelecki
authors.forename: Christina D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Chambers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000009:adverse effects; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects; D005190:Family; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014455:Ukraine; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol