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Racial Disparities in Pregnancy-Related Drinking Reduction

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Abstract

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. Conclusion 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.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the PRAMS Working Group: Alabama—Albert Woolbright, PhD; Alaska—Kathy Perham-Hester, MS, MPH; Arkansas—Mary McGehee, PhD; Colorado—Alyson Shupe, PhD; Delaware—Charlon Kroelinger, PhD; Florida—Jamie Fairclough, MPH; Georgia—Carol Hoban, MS, MPH; Hawaii—Sharon Sirling; Illinois—Theresa Sandidge, MA; Louisiana—Joan Wightkin; Maine—Kim Haggan; Maryland—Diana Cheng, MD; Massachusetts—Hafsatou Diop, MD, MPH; Michigan—Violanda Grigorescu, MD, MSPH; Minnesota—Jan Jernell; Mississippi—Vernesia Wilson, MPH; Missouri—Venkata Garikapaty, MSc, MS, PhD, MPH; Montana—JoAnn Dotson; Nebraska—Jennifer Severe-Oforah; New Jersey—Lakota Kruse, MD; New Mexico—Eirian Coronado; New York State—Anne Radigan-Garcia; New York City—Candace Mulready-Ward, MPH; North Carolina—Paul Buescher, PhD; North Dakota—Sandra Anseth; Ohio—Lily Tatham; Oklahoma-Dick Lorenz; Oregon—Kenneth Rosenberg, MD; Pennsylvania—Kenneth Huling; Rhode Island—Sam Viner-Brown, PhD; South Carolina—Jim Ferguson, DrPH; South Dakota—Christine Rinki, MPH; Texas—Eric Miller, PhD; Tennessee—David Law, PhD; Utah – Laurie Baksh; Vermont—Peggy Brozicevic; Virginia—Michelle White; Washington—Linda Lohdefinck; West Virginia—Melissa Baker, MA; Wisconsin—Katherine Kvale, PhD; Wyoming—Angi Crotsenberg; CDC PRAMS Team, Applied Sciences Branch, Division of Reproductive Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Community and Family Medicine, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Leigh E. Tenkku, Joanne Salas & Pamela K. Xaverius

  2. School of Public Health, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Daniel S. Morris

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  1. Leigh E. Tenkku
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Correspondence to Leigh E. Tenkku.

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Tenkku, L.E., Morris, D.S., Salas, J. et al. Racial Disparities in Pregnancy-Related Drinking Reduction. Matern Child Health J 13, 604–613 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-008-0409-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-008-0409-2

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