title: Alcohol consumption among HIV-positive pregnant women in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: prevalence and correlates.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  HIV-positive pregnant women who drink put their children at risk of both HIV and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. The province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has the highest prevalence of HIV in South Africa, but has not before been considered an area of high alcohol consumption among women. This paper analyzes a large sample of HIV+ pregnant women in KZN to examine alcohol consumption in that population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data came from assessments of women enrolled in Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission programs at 8 clinics in KZN. Descriptive statistics and logistic regressions were used to examine the prevalence and correlates of alcohol consumption and binge drinking.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 1201 women assessed, 18% reported drinking during pregnancy, and 67% of drinkers usually binged when drinking (had 3+ drinks in one sitting). Over one-third of drinkers binged twice a month or more. Women living in urban and peri-urban locations were more likely to drink, as were those with indicators of higher economic status and greater social engagement. Married women were less likely to drink, while women who had poorer mental health, used tobacco, or had a greater history of sexual risk-taking were more likely to drink.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health care workers in KZN should be aware that pregnant women who drink are likely to do so at a level that is dangerous for their babies. Some factors associated with drinking indicate social/environmental influences that need to be counteracted by greater dissemination of information about the dangers of drinking, and greater support for abstinence or moderation.
authors.affiliation: Center for Community Health, University of California at Los Angeles, 10920 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 350, Los Angeles, CA 90024-6543, USA.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Desmond
authors.forename: Norweeta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Milburn
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomlinson
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.forename: Alastair
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van Heerden
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van Rooyen
authors.forename: W Scott
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Comulada
authors.forename: Mary Jane
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rotheram-Borus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D017533:Marital Status; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data