Correlates of prenatal alcohol use.

OBJECTIVE: S: To identify correlates of prenatal alcohol use in a statewide population-based sample. METHODS: A self-reported survey was conducted in 67 prenatal clinics in Minnesota with 4,272 women at their first prenatal visit. Chi-squared and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify risk markers associated with any prenatal alcohol use. RESULTS: Nearly 27% of the respondents were calculated as having used alcohol during pregnancy. In multivariable analyses, the following were risk markers for prenatal alcohol use: older age, being unmarried, lower gravidity, greater depressed mood, currently smoking, exposure to intrapersonal violence, a history of not remembering things because of alcohol use, and feelings that the respondent should reduce her drinking. Subsequent analyses revealed that the association of intrapersonal violence with prenatal drinking was mediated by whether the woman reported that she did not remember things while drinking or that the woman felt she should reduce her drinking. CONCLUSIONS: The demographic and behavioral correlates reported here are consistent with previous research. The significance of two alcohol behavioral factors (i.e., not remembering things and feeling that she should reduce her drinking) suggest that the women who drank during pregnancy would likely have substance abuse issues.

Assessing the risk of fetal alcohol syndrome: understanding substance use among pregnant women.

Fetal alcohol exposure is a common cause of birth defects and developmental disorders. As many as 1 in 100 children in the United States are believed to be affected by fetal alcohol exposure. Characteristics of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) include abnormal facial features, growth impairment, problems with learning, memory, attention span, problem solving, speech, and hearing. FAS is 100% preventable. Preliminary data from 1704 pregnant women in Minnesota were assessed: substance use during pregnancy, risk factors related to substance use during pregnancy, and how substance use among pregnant women varies across the state. Of the sample, 19.6% of the women were calculated to have drunk alcohol while pregnant. Nondrinkers were more likely to be married and unemployed than drinkers. The drinkers reported significantly higher levels of depressed mood and greater number of problems with alcohol than their abstaining counterparts. Abstainers reported a greater number of pregnancies and initiated their first prenatal visit earlier than the drinkers. Significant differences in prenatal substance use and related factors also emerged by geographic region in Minnesota. Findings are discussed in relation to prevention and policy efforts.